Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 11: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the constitution of a high-level joint inspection team to visit the Karewas affected by alleged illegal mining, particularly in Pulwama and Budgam districts.
The move follows the Tribunal taking serious cognisance of large-scale illegal clay, sand and bajri mining that has allegedly devastated the fragile Karewas of Kashmir, especially in these districts.
The NGT has directed the formation of a joint inspection team comprising officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The team will be assisted by the J&K Pollution Control Board (JKPCC) and the Deputy Commissioners of Pulwama and Budgam, with the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, designated as the coordinating authority.
The committee has been tasked with visiting the affected sites, assessing the extent of illegal mining, identifying those responsible, and recommending remedial as well as punitive measures.
The directions were issued by the Principal Bench of the NGT, headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairman, and Dr Senthil Vel, Expert Member, while hearing a petition filed by noted environmental activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat.
Advocate Saurabh Sharma, appearing for the petitioner, informed the tribunal that rampant illegal mining in Zadoora and Rangeen Kultreh villages of Pulwama and the Chadoora area of Budgam district had destroyed nearly 1,000 kanals of land, causing extensive damage to apple, plum and almond orchards.
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