SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Illegal mining that continues unabated in the Central Kashmir has endangered to natural beauty , besides posing threat to river beds and adjacent area.It poses risk to the retaining the natural beauty of the upper reaches of Budgam and Ganderbal Districts where hundreds of tippers are busy in day light loot of natural resources.
Acting tough against the persons involved in illegal extraction and transportation of minerals, the J&K Police said that recent in a major operation they arrested eight persons and seized as many vehicles, mostly trucks, in the district Budgam. As many as 238 people have been arrested and 211 vehicles impounded in central Kashmir’s Budgam district this year for illegal extraction and transportation of minerals from riverbeds and plateaus, police officials said.
The spokesperson said that cases under relevant sections of law were registered at respective police stations and investigations have been taken up. This year, so far, 92 cases have been registered in the district.
It is important to mention there that unabated mining has become a major environmental issue in the valley. It has a direct bearing upon the losses in the Union Territory. Many experts are of the opinion that illegal mining results in massive revenue loss to the public exchequer. It is a fact that unregulated and illegal mining of minerals are undertaken without the proper permission from the concerned authorities.
According to the government’s policy, mining cannot be carried out without proper permission ,but mafia’s are active without any kind of threat and fear.
Sources said, in view of following destruction , a complete ban should be imposed on mining in the Kashmir valley. The mining mafia, however, is engaged in the illegal activity right next to the foundation of natural resources.
A few local residents claimed that they had brought the issue to the notice of the mining authorities and the local administration, but to no avail.
Despite tall claims by the local administration and the Mining Department, a large number of mules can be seen carrying extracted from these areas. The illegally mined material was transported on mules to certain points from where it was shifted to vehicles by the mining mafia for further sale, said, an environmental activist
The government must come up with a proper policy on the extraction of minerals like sand in the UT and ensure that licenses are granted on the basis of merit. All vehicles ferrying the mineral illegally extracted or obtained must be seized by the law enforcement wings.