System Observer
Akhnoor (Jammu) | Exclusive – System Observer:
Illegal stone crusher operations, sustained by ji unauthorised riverbed mining, continue to function openly across the Akhnoor Subdivision, covering Akhnoor, Pargwal and Gharota, exposing a deep regulatory breakdown and alleged departmental nexus.
Exclusive ground inputs and video evidence accessed by System Observer show crushers being fed daily with freshly extracted riverbed material, with JCBs, tractor-trolleys and labourers operating in broad daylight. The continuity and scale of activity point to organised commercial crusher operations running without fear of inspection or closure.
Mandatory Slip Vouchers Missing
At the core of the violations is the mandatory online slip-voucher system, generated through the official mining portal to legalise extraction and transport. Sources confirm that most crushers operating in Akhnoor Subdivision lack valid portal-generated slip vouchers, rendering the movement and processing of material illegal by default. Despite this, crusher operations continue unhindered.
Ground Reality vs Permissions
According to Sources nearly 10 stone crushers are functional in Akhnoor Subdivision, while only four reportedly possess valid permissions and clearances. Yet, crushers across Akhnoor, Pargwal and Gharota operate at full capacity—an outcome that officials familiar with the process say is not possible without routine departmental facilitation. “From slip issuance to vehicle movement, coordination is unavoidable. This scale cannot exist independently,” a source said.
Beyond Permitted Mining Blocks
Mining is permitted only in notified areas such as Rajpura (Sua No. 01), Jourian, and parts of Khour, under strict National Green Tribunal (NGT) norms. Field evidence indicates extraction and stockpiling beyond these limits to feed unauthorised crushers.
Enforcement Vacuum
Despite visual proof and repeated complaints, no decisive action—sealing of illegal crushers, seizure of machinery, or FIRs—has been reported. The absence of enforcement has sharpened allegations of a crusher–department nexus.
Environmental experts warn that unchecked crusher-linked riverbed mining threatens groundwater reserves, riverbank stability and flood safety, with long-term consequences for agriculture and habitation.
The Crux
When crushers operate without permissions, slip vouchers are missing, and mining continues in the open, the issue transcends isolated illegality—it signals systemic failure. Without an independent audit of crusher licences, portal data and departmental accountability, the Akhnoor–Pargwal–Gharota belt will remain a hotspot of organised environmental violation under official silence.
