J&K Police step up crackdown on illegal mining in Kulgam

Kulgam, Oct 8: Police in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district have intensified operations against illegal mining, registering 52 FIRs in the past month and seizing heavy machinery, including tippers, tractors, and JCBs, officials said.

The crackdown aims to protect the region’s fragile ecology and prevent the loss of public resources. Senior officers have directed all police stations in the district to maintain strict vigilance and take prompt action against violators, urging residents to report illegal mining.

“The drive aims to safeguard Kulgam’s fragile environment and prevent the exploitation of public resources due to unauthorised mining,” a police official said. Authorities reiterated their commitment to enforcing the law, warning that those involved in illegal mining will face strict legal action.

The district administration has also conducted several similar drives in recent weeks.

The intensified action follows the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) suo motu review of a Greater Kashmir report published in December 2024, which documented how unregulated mining and pollution were choking the Vaishaw stream. Originating at Kausarnag-Aharbal and joining the Jhelum at Sangam, the stream provides over six million gallons of drinking water daily to more than 100 villages and sustains trout and other sensitive fish species.

In hearings starting 3 January 2025, the tribunal directed the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), Central Pollution Control Board, Directorate of Fisheries, district administration, and the Geology and Mining Department to ensure compliance with environmental norms. An April report found that 11 of 19 active mining blocks were operating without consent, with heavy machinery disrupting riverbeds, altering water flow, and harming aquatic life.

Local fishermen and residents said illegal mining, often carried out at night, has reduced fish catches from 10 kg a decade ago to just 1–2 kg today, threatening the livelihoods of over 500 families. Officials admitted that mining continues despite police crackdowns.

Kulgam, which received the national “Best District Award in Fisheries” in November 2024, continues to face ecological challenges as the Vaishaw and Sandran streams remain affected by unregulated mining.