Panel seeks mining ban, river restoration
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 2: More than 15 lakh tonnes of boulders, sand and gravel were illegally extracted from the Sukhnag stream in district Budgam, according to a report submitted by a supervisory committee to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The report was filed in connection with a petition by environmental activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat and will be taken up by the Tribunal on July 13, when further action in the case is expected to be considered.
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The committee, comprising experts and officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE) and the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), inspected the affected sites at Sail and Kangripora villages in Beerwah on March 18.
According to the report, large-scale excavation has significantly altered the natural course of the Sukhnag stream and caused extensive environmental damage.
The panel observed deep trenches and widespread removal of riverbed material upstream of Sail Bridge, raising concerns over adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems, fisheries, river morphology and groundwater recharge.
Based on field measurements, the committee estimated that nearly 15.3 lakh tonnes of riverbed material had been extracted, assuming an average excavation depth of 5.22 metres.
Even under a conservative estimate of 3.86 metres, the quantity removed was assessed at around 10.62 lakh tonnes.
“These figures, although indicative, highlight the magnitude of extraction and warrant validation through high-resolution satellite imagery or drone-based surveys,” the report stated.
In view of the damage, the committee recommended an immediate moratorium on all mining activities within a five-kilometre stretch upstream and downstream of Sail Bridge up to Beerwah town until the river system is restored.
It also called for strict enforcement of the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, and the Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020.
Among other measures, the panel proposed filling deep trenches, re-levelling riverbed sediments to restore natural flow, installing CCTV surveillance at mining hotspots, undertaking river restoration works, rehabilitating fish habitats, and carrying out riparian plantation and bank-stabilisation measures.
The report further recommended restocking trout and indigenous fish species through coordinated efforts of the Fisheries Department and strengthening monitoring mechanisms to curb illegal mining.
The committee also confirmed losses suffered by local fish farmer Perzada Rayees, whose farm reportedly lost around 2,000 fish due to mining activity, resulting in an estimated financial loss of Rs 3 lakh.
The findings reinforce conclusions reached by earlier investigations conducted by teams from the MoEFCC, CPCB and JKPCC, as well as a committee constituted by the Deputy Commissioner Budgam, all of which had pointed to large-scale illegal mining in the Sukhnag.
Mining operations at the site were subsequently halted in January 2025.
Reacting to the report, petitioner Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat expressed hope that the NGT would impose substantial environmental compensation on those responsible and initiate criminal proceedings against officials who allegedly facilitated the mining operations.
He also sought restoration of the affected river stretch and adequate compensation for the fish farmer affected by the illegal extraction.
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