Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today directed the District Mineral Officer (DMO) Pulwama to file a detailed report on illegal riverbed mining in Romshi Nallah in Cheva Kalan, Cheva Khurd, and its adjoining villages.
The Deputy Chief Minister responded to social activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat on ‘X’ after he highlighted the illegal mining work being carried out in Romshi Nallah despite the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) direction to stop it.
“Noted Action will be taken. @TeamPulwama check and report,” wrote the Deputy CM in his reply to Raja Muzaffar Bhat on X.
Dr. Raja Muzaffar, who has filed more than half a dozen petitions in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on illegal riverbed mining, had posted GPS-tagged pictures on ‘X’ and tagged Choudhary, the DC Pulwama, and other officials.
Notably, Raja Muzaffar Bhat had already filed a petition in this case with the NGT last year in November, resulting in a notice being issued to the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and the J&K State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) by the NGT.
The NGT Principal Bench, presided over by Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), directed the District Magistrate Pulwama and SEIAA to submit detailed reports before the next hearing scheduled for February 5, 2024.
Following this, the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) imposed a ban on illegal mining and issued closure orders in February this year.
“In spite of the closure order issued by JKPCC, illegal mining has been going on in Romshi Nallah in Pulwama and many other streams. Machines like JCBs and L&T cranes, which are otherwise banned under all relevant laws, are being used,” Dr. Raja Muzaffar said.
