Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 29: The National Green Tribunal (NTG) has issued notice to District Magistrate Pulwama with regard to illegal riverbed mining of a stream flowing within the peripheries of the district.
The NGT has taken cognizance of illegal riverbed mining in Romshi nallah in Pulwama and issued notices to District Magistrate (Deputy Commissioner) Pulwama and J&K State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
The double bench of NGT headed by Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairperson) and Dr A Senthil Veil (Expert Member) while acting on the application of social activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat directed these authorities to file their detailed reports before the next date of hearing.
Applicant-Muzaffar projected before the Tribunal that the contractor continued to be involved in illegal riverbed mining inspite of his repeated appeals on social media and locals also urging the Government to act. He said that the District Mineral Officer-DMO Pulwama, Flood Control Department and other agencies failed to control illegal riverbed mining in Romshi nallah around Wahibugh, Chewakalan and adjoining villages of Pulwama district.
“In the last 2 years the Romshi nallah has been destroyed with the use of heavy machines, JCB’s and L&T cranes. I urged the NGT to take the culprits to task by levying environmental compensation on the contractor and other Govt agencies found guilty of this loot and plunder. I am grateful to NGT for taking cognizance of my petition and I am sure like Doodh Ganga, Romshi nallah will also be free from illegal riverbed mining in the coming months”, read the application.
The counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Rahul Chowdhary submitted before the NGT that the mining activity was being undertaken by the contractor (project proponent) in violation of Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines, 2016 and Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020 and the condition of Environmental Clearance (EC) dated 04.03.2022 especially the condition relating to prohibition on mining outside prescribed area and use of heavy machinery in mining.
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