* G&M Deptt to conduct comprehensive study
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 1: Taking serious note of widespread damages to the natural resources/environment due to ongoing work on the Katra-Qazigund railway line, which came to fore in the recent report of the geologists, Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary today directed the Chief Engineer of the Konkan Railways to compensate the damages and submit within two days the Environment Management and Much Disposal Plans, which were mandatory as per the environmental laws and the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Deputy Commissioner has also asked the Geology and Mining Department to conduct comprehensive study of damages across the district due to the railway line and submit report within 15 days.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that after going through the complaints from various areas about scarcity of water due to drying up of water supply schemes in Reasi, Deputy Commissioner on May 8, 2013 deputed a team of Geologists from the Department of Geology and Mining headed by Dr J S Jamwal for ground survey and technical assessment.
The team of the geologists and engineers surveyed the worst affected Mari village near the Tunnel No.5 on under construction Katra-Qazigund railway section for 15 days from May 10 onwards and submitted a detailed report to the Deputy Commissioner indicating the worst fears coming true, sources said, adding the team has submitted that several water resources have actually depleted due to construction of tunnels.
“On the basis of data provided by Konkan Railways and the field studies conducted during the visit the process of alignment and construction of tunnel seems to have led to modification of internal textural, structural and configuration of lithological units”, said the report signed by Dr J S Jamwal, Coordinator Geology, Geology and Mining Department, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
“The process of construction of tunnel under consideration seems to have intercepted the localized ground water bodies located along the alignment which has introduced the reversal of surface and sub-surface flow into the tunnel and modified the sustainability of discharge of springs located at an altitude higher than the altitude of the alignment of structrure under consideration”, the report said.
Taking serious cognizance of the findings of the geologists, the Deputy Commissioner today wrote to the Director, Geology and Mining for a comprehensive survey along the entire tract and report about the collateral damages to the ecology and environment especially depletion of water resources, sources said, adding the team, which will carry out study, will have members from Public Health Engineering, Public Works and Revenue Departments besides PMGSY and Konkan Railways.
“The team will also study other complaints related to damage to agricultural land, forest land and irrigation channels by way of disposal of muck and debris”, sources said while disclosing that in a number of cases roads constructed by various agencies have also been damaged.
While referring to the number of complaints regarding damage to agricultural land, irrigation canals, forest areas and State land due to irregular disposal of muck and debris generated due to the construction works of various railway tunnels and track in the district, Deputy Commissioner has asked the Chief Engineer Northern Railways to furnish the copy of Environmental Management Plan and Much Disposal Plan, which are mandatory as per environmental laws, within two days to explain what measures have been taken to protect the environment and ecology.
Terming the findings of the geologists as an alarming cause of concern, the Deputy Commissioner, according to the sources, has asked the Chief Engineer, Northern Railways that the prevailing situation clearly indicates that while carrying out the construction process of railway track across the district no attention has been paid to the damages done to the natural resources thereby depriving the people of their resources permanently.
“The Northern Railways has also been asked to take immediate corrective measures for restoration of water resources at all such locations where the springs have depleted or depleting owing to the construction works”, sources said.
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer PHE Reasi has been asked to prepare estimates of water supply schemes at Mari and adjoining areas and forward the same to the Chief Engineer KRCL for funding.
In response to a question, sources said that more than 50000 population has been affected due to the depletion of the water sources in Mari and adjoining belt. However, they regretted that the issue despite being brought to the notice of the district administration remained in the cold storage during the last three years.
“The action initiated by the district administration Reasi will not only help in protecting the natural resources and environment but also make agencies involved in the construction of railway line in other areas accountable for environmental damages”, sources added.
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