NGT halts illegal mining in Sukhnag; summons DC
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 18: The Joint Committee (JC) constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has confirmed riverbed mining in the Sukhnag river in its preliminary findings.
Based on the committee’s findings, the NGT has summoned the Deputy Commissioner of Budgam and ordered a halt to the illegal mining activities in the river.
The JC’s preliminary findings, submitted to the NGT, stated that during the site inspection, it was found that illegal mining had occurred in the Sukhnag river.
“Due to diversion/disruption of water supply caused by the mining/illegal extraction of minor minerals and boulders, the trout fish farms of Peerzada have suffered losses,” it stated.
It further noted that mining activities and the extraction of boulders from the Sukhnag river “has affected the water sources and resulted in the increased turbidity and decrease in water level.”
The JC report also stated that the Geology and Mining Department had issued 163 Short-Term Permits (STPs) to executing agencies, including PWD (R&B), PMGSY, NHAI, SE Hydraulic, and NBCC, authorized by the Deputy Commissioner of Budgam and the Executive Engineer of the Flood Spill Division Narbal, during 2020-2024 for developmental projects.
“The area upon which the Sukhnag nallah flows in the Beerwah Subdivision of district Budgam is state land recorded in the revenue record. It is recorded in the occupation of the state,” the JC noted.
It is to be noted here that the committee, comprising senior officers from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board, J&K Pollution Control Committee, and the Director of Fisheries, J&K Government, visited the site in Sail and Kangripora villages in Beerwah on December 26, 2024, along with the local SDM, Tehsildar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, and SHO.
The petitioner in the case, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, and local residents were also present on the occasion. The JC submitted its report to the NGT on January 13, and the matter was listed for hearing on January 15, 2025.
Advocate Saurabh Sharma, representing petitioner Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, told the NGT that “under the garb of disposal permits, the loot and plunder has been taking place in Sukhnag for the last more than three years.”
The NGT’s three-member bench, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson), Sudhir Agarwal (Judicial Member), and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), in its order on January 15, stated.
“Since neither the Respondent No. 2 (DC Budgam) is represented nor the reply on his behalf has been filed, therefore, we direct Respondent No. 2 (DC Budgam) to appear virtually on the next date of hearing.
As per the order, Respondent No. 2 has also been directed to ensure that no illegal sand and boulder mining in the area concerned takes place without requisite permission, environmental clearance, and compliance with other norms until the next date of hearing.
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