Dumping near Fossil Park at Khonmoh sparks outrage

Srinagar, Jul 12: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has sounded an alarm over the establishment of an illegal garbage dumping yard near the Guryul Ravine Fossil Park in Khonmoh on the outskirts of Srinagar, calling it a direct assault on a globally significant geological site that dates back 252 million years.

“This is nothing short of environmental vandalism of global proportions,” said Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, convener of EPG. “We are witnessing the reckless destruction of a one-of-a-kind geological heritage site, which holds the earliest known fossil evidence of a tsunami and unparalleled insights into Earth’s mass extinction history.”

As per the EPG statement, the Guryul Ravine is internationally recognised by geologists, palaeontologists, and climate scientists as one of the most crucial Permian-Triassic boundary sites. The sedimentary layers found at the site capture the story of the world’s greatest mass extinction and bear tsunami-triggered deposits that are unique in the global fossil record. These features have drawn researchers from around the world and are frequently cited in international scientific journals.

Despite its scientific and ecological importance, a large garbage dumping site has now been set up in close proximity to the fossil beds. This includes not only open dumping but the construction of a garbage shed within the sensitive buffer zone, which experts say threatens the fragile strata and fossilised remains.

The act, EPG said, constitutes a violation of several key environmental protection laws, including the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. It also stands in breach of previous directions by the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which had specifically ordered the conservation of such sensitive heritage zones.

“Even after the central government banned mining activities in the area following international criticism, authorities on the ground have now shockingly allowed a waste dumping yard right next to the park,” said the EPG convener.

According to Bakshi, the site has long suffered from neglect, despite repeated warnings from scientists and conservationists. “This dumping poses an immediate risk of irreversible damage to one of Earth’s most scientifically valuable archives,” he said.

EPG has called upon the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee, the District Administration Srinagar, the Department of Geology and Mining, the Department of Wildlife Protection, and the Department of Rural Development to take immediate cognisance of the violation and dismantle the site without delay. It also demanded strict legal action against those responsible.

The group said it is preparing to file a fresh petition before the High Court to seek urgent intervention and enforcement of past orders, including stronger legal protection for the site.

EPG has further appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, and the Chief Secretary to take personal notice of the violation. The group urged that Guryul Ravine and its buffer zone be officially declared a No-Dumping Zone and notified as an Eco-Sensitive Area under applicable law.

“Guryul Ravine is not just a landmark for Kashmir—it is a geological monument of global significance, a living classroom for students, and a rare window into Earth’s turbulent past,” Bakshi said. “Protecting it is not only a legal obligation—it is a moral imperative.”