Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 05: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a high-level panel to ascertain facts related to the illegal riverbed mining in the Sukhnag river in Beerwah, Budgam.
The committee has been tasked with submitting a factual report within eight weeks on the illegal mining occurring in Sail village and adjoining areas.
On Friday, the NGT’s Principal Bench-comprising Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairperson), Justice AK Tyagi, and Dr Senthil A Veil (Expert Member)-heard a petition filed by Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, a social and environmental activist.
Dr. Bhat alleged that illegal riverbed mining in Sukhnag was causing an environmental disaster and destroying aquatic life, particularly trout fish.
Advocate Saurabh Sharma, counsel for the petitioner, presented factual details to the NGT, along with geotagged photos showing heavy machinery and dumpers extracting boulders from Sukhnag Nallah in violation of J&K’s Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016.
The counsel further argued that, due to halted water flow in May this year, more than 2,000 fish died in a nearby trout fish farm owned by local entrepreneur Peerzada Rayees.
Despite communication between the SDM, Tehsildar, and the Fisheries Department, no action was taken by the Government, the bench was informed.
In its order, the Principal Bench directed the formation of a committee to investigate the matter and submit a report within eight weeks.
The committee members include the Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in New Delhi, a representative from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee, and the Director of Fisheries, Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Member Secretary of the J&K Pollution Control Committee will act as the Nodal Agency in this case,” the order read.
Expressing satisfaction, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat thanked the NGT for taking up the case.
“In addition to environmental damage, those involved in illegal mining are looting the state exchequer, as riverbed material worth Rs 20 to 25 lakh is being stolen daily from Sukhnag, while only Rs 25,000 is being deposited into the Government treasury,” he said.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on January 14, 2025.
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