Illegal mining in mountains and rivers of Jammu and Kashmir is causing extensive damage to the eco-fragile environment.
J&K is blessed with minerals like limestone, gypsum, coal, magnetite, lignite, granite and sapphire. Perennial left and right bank tributaries of Jhelum basin have rich deposits of minor minerals like boulders which are extracted for construction purposes.
In absence of regulation, organised mafia is having free run to vandalise our natural resources. There has been an increase in mining activities due to high demand of raw material for construction activities. Besides damage to our environment, J&K loses revenue which could be generated from royalties from leased mining blocks due to illegal mining.
Taking strong note, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo during a recent meeting impressed upon the Department of Mining to act tough against the menace in the Union Territory. The Chief Secretary directed to completely stop illegal mining saying the administration has to work on the two pronged strategy— devising the effective deterrents to curb it. He directed for increasing permits to include all the areas where people and public projects do not face any dearth of such construction material in the UT. The step taken by the Chief Secretary to safeguard the environment is appreciable and timely.
We have to understand that any mining activity in mountains, streams or rivers must be environmentally feasible. The constitution of the J&K Environment Impact Assessment Authority (JKEIAA) is in its final stage of constitution to make the availability of minerals more smooth in the market. We need minerals to meet our developmental needs. But the Government has to ensure that minerals should be extracted after following all procedures. On a daily basis, police has been seizing vehicles for their involvement in illegal mining in J&K. In Jammu district alone, 1378 vehicles have been seized in illegal mining cases this year. But there is no let up as the mafia behind the illegal mining gets away.
Illegal mining is in full swing in various areas of Kashmir including Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian, and Kulgam districts in south Kashmir. Budgam and Ganderbal districts in central Kashmir are hotbeds of illegal mining. The mafia uses heavy machines like JCBs and cranes for illegal mining, destroying streams, particularly in Kashmir.
Karewas too have been bearing the brunt of illegal mining for soil extraction. Karewas form an important part of Kashmir’s fragile eco-system. Known as Wuder, Karewas are flat-topped tablelands that are not just raised mounds of earth but repositories of geological and archeological treasures. Ironically, Karewas are being extensively destroyed for soil excavation.
Mining mafia is devastating Jhelum and its major tributaries like Doodh Ganga, Vaishav, Rambiara, Shali Ganga and other streams. On a petition of an environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) last year had ordered closure of mining operations in several areas of Budgam district calling into question the Environmental Clearances (EC) given for the operations.
The NGT came up with an order exposing use of JCBs and other heavy machines for riverbed mining. On October 7, 2022, NGT imposed a penalty of Rs 35 Crores on J&K Government for constantly polluting Doodh Ganga. Earlier in 2022, the NGT had slapped Rs three crore penalty on the Government for illegal dumping of solid waste, liquid waste and undertaking illegal mining.
Our planners need to understand that J&K, owing to its unique topography, is prone to natural disasters. J&K has a history of earthquakes, floods and landslides. Environmentalists have been ringing alarm bells that natural disasters are triggered by haphazard developmental activities and vandalisation of our natural resources— water bodies, orchards, agricultural fields, mountains, glaciers and forests.
Mountains, rivers and streams have a stable hydraulic regime and any disturbance in these can have devastating effects on the environment. Experts state that any mining of minor minerals boulder, gravel and sand has to be done in consideration of the entire regime of the river and its regenerative capacity of minor minerals.
We must ensure sustainable development to minimise damage to our fragile environment. This high time to curb illegal mining and prevent vandalisation of our mountains and streams. There is a need to set up inter and intra district special check posts to prevent transportation of illegal mining material. Besides, a real time monitoring system through CCTVs must be done at areas vulnerable to illegal mining.
Government can’t reach every area, and it is the responsibility of people also to take measures at their own level to prevent illegal mining in their respective areas. It is our duty to safeguard our natural resources as our survival depends on nature.
Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir
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