DC Budgam constitutes committee to assess damage caused by illegal mining at Sukhnag

Srinagar, Aug 29: In a significant development, Deputy Commissioner Budgam has constituted a committee to assess the damage caused by the illegal mining at Sukhnag river.

The move comes months after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) summoned the then Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam and ordered that no illegal mining should take place in the Sukhnag river. In January this year, the Joint Committee (JC) constituted by the National Green Tribunal – NGT regarding destruction of Sukhnag river in its preliminary findings and observations stated that illegal Riverbed Mining has been taking place in Sukhnag.

In wake of this DC Budgam Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat has constituted a seven-member committee for proper assessment of the damage caused due to illegal mining at Sukhnag river.

The committee is headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Beerwah as its chairman while the members of the committee include Executive Engineer flood spill channel Division Narbal, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Budgam, District Mineral Officer (DMO) Budgam, Block Development Officer (BDO) Beerwah and Sukhnag, besides Assistant Director fisheries Budgam. The committee has been entrusted to visit the spot to assess the damage caused by the illegal mining.

In wake of this SDM Beerwah who is the chairman of the committee has convened a meeting on September 01 of 2025 and to proceed for the spot visit as directed by the deputy commissioner Budgam. "As such all the members are hereby requested to make it convenient to attend the meeting on scheduled date, time and venue," reads an official communication issued by SDM Beerwa.

As already reported, the members of the NGTs constituted committee that comprised of senior officers of Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change- MoEF , Central Pollution Control Board -CPCB, JK Pollution Control Committee-JKPCC and Director Fisheries J&K Govt had visited the site in Sail and Kangripora villages in Beerwah on December 26, 2024 along with local SDM, Tehsildar, Sub Divisional Police Officer-SDPO and SHO.

The petitioner in the case, Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat and local residents were also present on the occasion. The Joint Committee-JC later on submitted the report to NGT on January 13 of 2025 and matter was listed for hearing on January 15, 2025.

“During the site inspection by the Joint Committee, it has been found that illegal mining has taken place in the Sukhnag River. Due to diversion/ disruption of water supply caused by the mining/illegal extraction of minor minerals and boulders, the trout fish farms of Peerzada have suffered losses. The mining activities and extraction of boulders from the Sukhnag river, has affected the water sources and resulted in the increased turbidity and decrease in water level," read the preliminary findings of the Joint Committee submitted in NGT.