Despite State Govt imposing a blanket ban on sand mining from some of the river beds the operation goes on unchecked by the mafias and law enforcing agencies. This is much prevalent in the interior regions where vigil is literally impossible because of the remoteness and separation from the administrative machinery. Uncontrolled and unchecked sand mining from the river beds has been one of the major reasons for the depletion of water level in most of them. Even the places which have religious significance from generations have not been spared. For a surprise this year Tawi was spared from the wanton loot as the rains kept the water level up to some respectable depth. Otherwise the river used to turn into a dry patch with puddles of stagnant and stinky water with garbage strewn on the surface. The river is a major water source for the city’s drinking water needs. Cross city limits and go towards Nagrota one could earlier see sand mining on the Tawi may be an authorised one from the Govt’s point of view but this year it too is missing which is a welcome sign for the environment. The growing construction boom visible in and around is responsible for the rise in demand for sand and water borne gravel. Go down the National Highway towards Kathua one can see rampant mining on the Ravi bed. Here the exploitation of the natural resource is done by two states on the one side we have Punjab and on the other side it is Jammu and Kashmir so it is quite suitable for the violators to exploit the situation on the law enforcing agencies having their territorial limits. The rampant violation not only harms environment but also drains out State exchequer on royalty in huge amount. The sand lifting from river bed is spread to wide areas especially in the remote ones where enforcement agencies are unable to keep an eye over the wanton loot. There is an urgent need for stricter laws to check the growing menace before it is too late.
