The failure of administration to implement the ban it imposed on illegal extraction of stones, sand and boulders from different water bodies across Kashmir valley might turn out to be a serious environmental disaster in coming years, signs of which are already visible.
As per official sources, administration in all the districts of Kashmir has repeatedly ordered a blanket ban on illegal extraction of all sorts of river bed material from rivers, nallahs, water bodies, tributaries and offshoots in the valley, and earth from the karewas, carried out in any manner, from or method.
The administration, however, has been unable to implement its own orders and the extraction continues right under the nose of the administration. The practice goes unabated across the southern districts especially and its peripheries.
“There is a nexus between this mafia and some government agencies, allowing illegal extraction of housing raw material. This has endangered the embankments of the streams across southern areas,” a local resident Gul Mohammad of Shopian said.
On the other hand the environmental experts have expressed horror at the unabated practice, saying that a disaster is looming environmental hazards.
“The extraction of sand, stones and boulders not only cause loss to mineral deposits but also changes the bed leveling of these streams which also change its course in wake of a flood,” said a source at geology and mining department.
As per official figures, dozens of sensitive sites are being vandalized by the practice as of now, where the extraction of sand, stones and boulders is going on round the clock.
There are around 554 mineral blocks in J&K, of which 261 are in the 10 districts of Kashmir. Of these 261 blocks, each of which measures a maximum of 10 hectares. A significant number of the mineral blocks are situated along the banks of river Jhelum, considered a lifeline in J&K.
People living close to these streams complained that the indiscriminate extraction of stones, boulders and sand from the streams has left the nearby residential areas more prone to floods. The practice has also damaged the adjoining roads, streets, bunds and have caused noisy environment in these areas.
“Everyday dozens of heavy load carriers are extracting tonnes of stones for about five to six hours. Heavy vehicles including tippers, tractors and JCB machines are mainly used by drivers and contractors,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad a local who lives close to Rainb Ara in Shopian.
People today even took to the streets and lodged a protest against the load carriers for resorting to heavy extraction of housing material at Rambiara in Shopian.
Despite assurances from authorities that it would be stopped, they failed to stop it and allowing violators a free hand. The residents appealed concerned authorities several times to conduct the on-spot inspection to know the scale of damage and impacts on the adjacent areas but that never happened, said residents of Shopiyan.
On this matter police officials said that they have arrested many load carrying drivers in connection with illegal extraction. “Mere police cannot do anything unless other concerned departments cooperate.” they said.
When contacted a senior official of geology and mining department, said that they are often charging fine through challans besides seizing dozens of vehicles and handing them to police.
“We cannot stop the illegal extraction unless people and other concerned departments cooperate with us, “he added. (KNT)