EPG raises alarm over illegal riverbed mining in Doodh Ganga

Srinagar, Oct 23: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has voiced serious concern over the resumption of illegal riverbed mining in the Doodh Ganga stream at Kralwari Borwah village, Chadoora, Budgam, terming it a blatant violation of Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders.

In a statement EPG convenor, Faiz Bakshi said that environmental activist and NGT petitioner Raja Muzaffar Bhat has lodged a formal complaint with the Chairperson of the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), alleging that large-scale extraction of muck and gravel is being carried out using heavy machinery in an area designated as a trout fish beat under the Fisheries Department.

The EPG highlighted that despite clear judicial directives, the Mining, Fisheries, and Irrigation & Flood Control Departments continue issuing Short Term Permits (STPs) and Disposal Permits (DPs), which the Supreme Court and NGT have declared illegal. “The unlawful continuation of mining activities under the garb of permits is nothing short of contempt of court,” said EPG Convenor Faiz Bakshi, referencing the Supreme Court’s March 21, 2024 ruling which emphasized that no project with ecological impact can proceed without environmental clearance.

The Court had struck down blanket exemptions granted under Ministry of Environment notifications and stressed that sustainable development must not compromise ecological integrity or public participation. The NGT has repeatedly reaffirmed that STPs and DPs are “non-est in law,” making ongoing extraction patently illegal.

“Despite these directives, illegal mining continues, eroding riverbanks, destroying aquatic habitats, and threatening local livelihoods,” the EPG stated. The group has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to immediately halt permit issuance, enforce judicial orders, and hold officials accountable for violations.

Concluding its statement, EPG emphasised: “Environmental compliance is both a legal and moral duty. Protecting the fragile Himalayan ecosystem is imperative for ecological balance and the well-being of future generations.”