The team looks at a map of the affected area before the inspection. Picture by Subhash Chandra Bose

Jaigaon, Sept. 25: A joint inspection team comprising senior officials from north Bengal and Bhutan began a two-day survey today to seek solutions to longstanding problems over dolomite mining in the Himalayan kingdom.

The team comprises Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner B.L. Meena, north Bengal inspector-general of police R.J.S. Nalwa, chief conservator of forest (north Bengal) S.B. Patel, Bhutan joint home secretary Dasho Tshering Wangda and the regional director of the Bhutan ministry of trade and industry, Tenzing Choida.

Meena said after the inspection there would be a final meeting between the two sides in Thimpu on November 7.

Patel alleged that the unscientific mining of dolomite in Bhutan was polluting the rivers flowing down from there. “The pollution in the Titi is causing harm to animals in Jaldapara.”

On the other hand, the Bhutanese officials complained that Indian trucks entering the country were illegally taking away dolomite and causing the pollution.Wangda said the pollution of rivers entering India had been communicated to his government by the Indian ministry of external affairs.

“There are allegations and counter allegations and hence the joint inspection,” he said. Wangda said Titi, Sukti, Kalapani, Khagrakhola and Pagli were inspected today, covering a stretch of 30km. The team also visited the mining area of Penden Cement Factory, which uses dolomite.