With completion of target for quarrying of minor minerals from the Kosi riverbed here, the
Forest Department has closed all the exit gates till the next mining session. The department has also started digging trenches on the routes to prevent illegal mining here.
The Belpadav forest ranger Santosh Pant informed that the mining session had started on October 20, 2017. A target of quarrying 503000 cubic metres worth 1,600 vehicle loads had been set for the season. The target was achieved without any hindrance which resulted in the collection of Rs 27 crore revenue.
Pant further informed that action against illegal mining the Terai west forest division alone has recovering about Rs 2.5 crore compounding amount from those caught indulging in illegal mining. On Tuesday, a team from the forest department accompanied the sub divisional magistrate on an inspection of the mining area on the Kosi. All the gates in the quarrying area were also closed for the season during the inspection.