By IANS,
Mathura : Protests were held Monday against the alleged illegal stone mining in this Uttar Pradesh city, amid concerns from environmental activists that ecology was being disturbed at holy places here.
Hundreds of activists and mendicants demonstrated at the Mathura district magistrate’s office demanding setting up of permanent police posts to check the illegal mining. The protesters presented a memorandum to the district magistrate seeking removal of officials who had permitted the mining in the area.
Mathura is reputed to be the birthplace of Hindu god Krishna.
A joint team of officials Sunday seized crushers and machinery of more than a dozen alleged illegal miners, who had been excavating stone from the eco-sensitive area of Braj, near Barsana, the birth place of Radha, companion of Krishna.
Some JCB machines, crushers, tractors and trucks were seized.
Environmental activists of the Braj Rakshak Dal have been demanding action against miners who, they said, have damaged the fragile ecology of holy places.