More rules and regulations are made by concerned authorities at different levels aimed at protecting the environment from pollution and degradation. However, at the same time, more instances of violation of these rules and regulations are coming to notice. It appears that a nexus has come up between illegal mining and supervising agencies. When a State Government does not give due importance to the directive of the Supreme Court, it means that the Government is hand and glove with those who are breaking the law and causing damage to the environment. In the case of many States including J&K, it has been found that the instructions of the Apex Court are not strictly adhered to.
Way back in 2012, when a case of callous mining and quarrying came up for hearing before the Supreme Court, directions were issued to all the States including Jammu and Kashmir to frame proper rules in accordance with the recommendations made by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) under Section 15 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. The State Law Department has cleared the directive of the Apex Court but despite that no rules have been framed in accordance with the instructions of the Apex Court.
In the meanwhile callous extraction of minor minerals, sand and gravel from the river beds is damaging and depleting the environment and degrading the water bodies. It reduces underground water level and thus entire flora and fauna is adversely affected. Curiously these illegal activities are going on under the nose of the Geology and Mining Department. Instead of dissuading defaulters from degrading the environment and causing distress to human and animal life, the Department in question is indirectly becoming an accomplice in degrading of environment.
In particular, the case of mining and quarrying in the Ravi river bed has come to light. Reckless mining in Ravi River has been quoted as instance of abuse of Supreme Court directions and recommendations of MoEF. PIL has made a complaint of grant of consent orders to 31 stone crushers in a concentrated zone near thickly populated areas, which has resulted into destruction of environment, ecology, loss of public property as well as of human and animal life. One wonders how the Department of Geology and Mining issues licenses in contravention of the directive of the Supreme Court. The Government has to take a note of the situation in which the Department disregards the directive of the Supreme Court and does not ensure that the instructions of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests are taken into account before issuing auction notices. The Ministry has emphasized the need of having a well considered plan for mining and quarrying that takes care of ecology and environment. Issuing quarrying permits has to be allowed as per the directions of Apex Court and recommendation of MoEF.
In final analysis, many lessons have to be learnt from the calamity of floods that happened in almost all the three regions of the State more especially in the valley in September 2014. Mishandling of water bodies, rivers and nullahs have caused disaster. If we continue to play loosely with nature, it will become unsparing and merciless. The Government must ensure proper implementation of the instructions of the court in regard to preservation of ecology and environment in their pristine purity.
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