Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 7: A Government-appointed committee has confirmed that large-scale illegal riverbed mining has caused extensive damage to the Sukhnag stream in Budgam district, prompting the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to order a fresh site inspection by an expert panel.
The findings were submitted to the NGT through the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) by a seven-member committee constituted by the Deputy Commissioner Budgam in August last year.
The panel was formed following directions from the NGT, which had summoned the district administration and ordered that illegal mining in the Sukhnag river be stopped.
According to the report, uncontrolled extraction of riverbed material has severely disturbed the natural morphology of the Sukhnag, a designated trout fish stream.
The committee observed deep trenches along several stretches of the nallah, erosion of embankments due to heavy machinery, and damage to existing flood protection works.
The report also noted that sustained mining activity had altered the natural bed configuration, longitudinal slope and geomorphological stability of the stream, resulting in unpredictable flow patterns and accelerated erosion downstream.
The committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Beerwah and Divisional Forest Officer Pir Panjal Division has recommended a series of restoration measures.
These include filling deep trenches, levelling the riverbed, constructing gabion or crate check-dams with fish ladders, and building toe walls to stabilise eroded embankments.
The creation of artificial fish pools to restore breeding, nursery and feeding grounds for trout has also been suggested.
“Complete stoppage of extraction of RBM from Nallah Sukhnag to prevent any future damage or loss. Though the ban on extraction has already been enforced by the District Administration, the need is to sustain it, allowing the nallah to rejuvenate again,” it recommended.
Regarding the action taken, the report has stated that 26 FIRs have been lodged against habitual offenders and surprise inspection and raids are being conducted regularly to check illegal mining.
“At present Illegal extraction has been completely stopped with sustainable enforcement mechanism in place to strictly deal with any violations.”
The issue of environmental damage to the Sukhnag river is being heard in the case Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat Vs Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and others, currently before the NGT’s principal bench in New Delhi.
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