EAF urges Farooq Abdullah to intervene against illegal mining in J&K

Forum alleges failure of monitoring mechanisms, seeks strict enforcement of environmental laws

Jammu Tawi, June 6: The Environment Awareness Forum (EAF) has appealed to senior National Conference leader and president of the party, Farooq Abdullah, to impress upon the Jammu and Kashmir administration the need for strict regulation and monitoring of minor mineral extraction across the Union Territory in accordance with environmental and legal norms.

EAF President Bhushan Parimoo apprised Dr Farooq in detail over phone about the grave concern over the alleged unregulated extraction of minor minerals, including sand, bajri and boulders, from riverbeds and other ecologically sensitive areas. He said such activities were causing severe damage to the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, accelerating soil erosion, destroying aquatic habitats, disrupting groundwater levels and increasing the risks of floods and water scarcity. Dr. Farooq assured to convey the grave concern to the Dy CM, who is the concern minister.

Parimoo referred to observations made by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which have repeatedly stressed the need for sustainable mining practices and effective monitoring mechanisms. He alleged that despite the existence of detailed guidelines and regulatory frameworks, illegal mining continued unabated in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The EAF president claimed that the district-level monitoring committees headed by Deputy Commissioners, which are mandated to prevent illegal mining and monitor mineral transportation, had failed to effectively curb violations. He alleged the existence of a nexus involving various departments and vested interests that allowed illegal extraction activities to continue.

Raising particular concern over the extraction of minerals from the Salal Reservoir area, which has been declared a human-made wetland, Parimoo alleged that mining and desilting operations were being carried out without adherence to prescribed environmental safeguards. He pointed out that Public Interest Litigations (PIL No. 35/2014) & (PIL No. 11/2017) are the primary, landmark cases concerning the preservation, demarcation, and protection of wetlands before the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir had underscored the need for strict compliance with environmental regulations.

According to Parimoo, activities such as dam desilting and mineral extraction require prior environmental clearance and comprehensive ecological assessments to evaluate their impact on aquatic life, water quality and biodiversity. He said guidelines issued by the Central Water Commission and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change mandate such safeguards.

The EAF also questioned the effectiveness of the monthly reporting mechanism under which district authorities are required to certify that mineral extraction is being carried out in accordance with the law. Parimoo alleged that these provisions were not being implemented in letter and spirit.

Seeking urgent intervention, the Forum called for greater accountability, transparent monitoring and strict enforcement of environmental laws to protect Jammu and Kashmir’s natural resources from what it described as unchecked and environmentally damaging mining activities.