In Kashmir village once known for its springs, mining leaves river scarred, fields barren, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• A joint panel flagged "indiscriminate and unscientific" riverbed mining in the Sukhnag river in Budgam, Kashmir, causing severe environmental damage.
• The panel, comprising the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), and J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), submitted its report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on May 6.
• An estimated 10.6 lakh to 15.3 lakh tonnes of riverbed material were extracted, leading to "irreversible hydrogeological damage."
• The mining, largely undertaken by NKC Projects Pvt Ltd, involved excavation up to 4.42 meters (15 feet) deep, impacting the riverbed and alluvial aquifer zones.
• The panel recommended a moratorium on all mining activities until the Sukhnag river system is adequately restored.

Detailed Insights:

• The Sukhnag river, a 54-km-long tributary of the Jhelum, originates in the Pir Panjal range and is a critical source for drinking, irrigation, and trout fishing in Budgam district.
• Villagers in Sail reported that the mining projects transformed the once-abundant river, leading to dried-up springs, irrigation channels, and loss of aquatic life.
• The extraction was allegedly carried out through permits issued by the district administration, which activists claim circumvented environmental clearance requirements.
• The report highlighted procedural and regulatory violations, including inadequate adherence to safeguards prescribed by the MoEF&CC and the absence of replenishment studies between 2020 and 2024.
• The damage has severely impacted local livelihoods, with farmers like Imtiyaz Ali losing paddy fields and trout farmers experiencing significant losses.
• Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an environmental activist, filed the petition before the NGT, highlighting the extensive and potentially illegal extraction.
• The NGT had previously imposed a complete ban on mining in the Sukhnag river in January 2025 after a joint fact-finding team reported extensive devastation.
• Excessive riverbed mining can lead to channel erosion, degradation of water quality, groundwater depletion, and loss of aquatic habitats.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Riverbed Mining: The extraction of sand, gravel, and other minerals from river channels, often used for construction.
• Environmental Clearance: A mandatory regulatory approval required for projects that may have an impact on the environment.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A statutory body established in 2010 for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
• Hydrogeological Damage: Harm to the geological structures and processes related to the distribution and movement of groundwater.