Dy CM seeks report on illegal riverbed mining in Pulwama

Srinagar, Dec 1: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary who is also the Minister for Mining Department J&K Govt on Sunday directed the District Mineral Officer (DMO) Pulwama to file a detailed report on illegal riverbed mining taking place in Romshi nullah in Cheva Kalan , Cheva Khurd and its adjoining villages.

The Dy CM responded to noted social activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat on X as he had highlighted the illegal mining work being carried out in Romshi nallah in spite of NGTs direction to stop it. " Noted Action will be taken" said Dy CM in his reply to Raja Muzaffar Bhat on X.

Dr Raja Muzaffar who has filed over more than half dozen petitions in National Green Tribunal (NGT) on illegal riverbed mining had posted GPS pics on X and tagged Dy CM , DC Pulwama and many other officers.

Pertinently Raja Muzaffar Bhat has already filed a petition in this case in NGT last year in November and a notice had already been issued to Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and JK State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) by NGT.

The NGT Principal bench presided over by Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairperson) and Dr A Senthil Veil (expert member) had directed the District Magistrate Pulwama and SEIAA to submit detailed reports before the next hearing scheduled for February 5.

Following this the J&K Pollution Control Committee had imposed a ban on illegal mining and issued closure orders as well in February this year.

“ Inspite of the closure order issued by JKPCC , illegal mining has been going on in Romshi nallah in Pulwama and many other streams . The machines like JCBs, cranes are used which are otherwise banned under all relevant laws. The DMO Pulwama has failed to act and allows the illegal work. I am grateful to Dy CM Surinder Choudhary for taking cognisance of my post on X but what report will DMO Pulwama submit when he himself allows all this illegal work. I would suggest Deputy CM to handover this case to JK Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) for an in-depth probe” said Dr Raja Muzaffar.

Pertinently illegal riverbed mining has been going on at large scale in nallah Sukhnag Beerwah Budgam , Vaishav in Kulgam , Rambiara in Shopian as well.

" Except DC Shopian, other DCs in J&K are not proactive against the mining mafia. I would request CM Omar Abdullah, Dy CM Surinder Choudhary to take notice of this," Dr Raja Muzaffar added.