NGT issues notice to CS, IGP, DC, others

Srinagar, Dec 13: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a fresh case has issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Director of Geology and Mining, Member Secretary J&K Pollution Control Committee, and contractor Ranbir Singh for continuous illegal riverbed mining in Sasara stream in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district around Chatripora-Bandzoo villages.

The NGT bench of Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, judicial member, and A Senthil Veil, expert member, on December 5 issued notices to the J&K government through the Chief Secretary and other officers and asked them to file a response one week before the next date of hearing.

The case is now listed for another hearing on March 28, 2025.

The petitioner Raja Muzaffar Bhat through his counsel Advocate Saurabh Sharma urged the NGT that Riverbed Mining (RBM) was being done in Sasara nallah at Bandzoo Bridge downstream between Bandzoo and Chatripora villages in Pulwama district by Ranbir Singh who had been granted an Environmental Clearance (EC) dated April 5, 2022.

“As per the Specific Condition No 53 of the EC, no heavy machinery or JCB can be used for riverbed mining but Ranbir Singh has been using heavy machinery and JCB in the Sasara nallah which is a violation of the specific condition of the EC. The use of the heavy machinery and JCB was being done and we have GPS photos to prove that and the same were submitted before the NGT who took cognisance of the issue. I had brought the matter to the notice of the Chief Secretary and IGP Kashmir through emailed complaints also but no action was taken, prompting me to seek an intervention of NGT,” Bhat said.

Sasara nallah is a tributary of Rambiara which originates from the Pir Panjal mountains between the Shopian and Poonch districts.

The deep mining was being done in violation of J&K Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016.

“This is impacting local agricultural fields and apple orchards as the water supply in irrigation channels is halted and springs are drying up,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Bandzoo Pulwama.

“Prima facie, the averments made in the application raise substantial questions relating to the environment arising out of the implementation of the enactments specified in Schedule I to the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The notice of application along with copies of documents attached should be issued to the respondents requiring them to file their responses thereto at least a week before the date of hearing hereby fixed,” reads the order issued by NGT on December 5.