The environmental activists seek NGT intervention to save all the snow fed water streams of Kashmir from illegal mining and flow of direct sewage into these streams.
SRINAGAR
Recently National Green Tribunal (NGT), intervened to save water streams of Kashmir from environmental degradation. The environmental activists here are seeking NGT intervention to save all the snow fed water streams of Kashmir from illegal mining and flow of direct sewerage into these streams.While issuing notices to Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, J&K State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) about the illegal mining in the Romshi Nallah of Pulwama in South Kashmir, NGT has also received the response from J&K administration briefing about the steps taken to preserve Doodh Ganga Nallah in central Kashmir of Budgam which also passes through the Srinagar city.
JK authorities in its report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has said that they have allocated Rs 32 crore for the restoration of Doodh Ganga Nallah and Mamath Kul stream as directed by the tribunal.
The response from the administration has come after the sharp criticism by NGT for the serious lapses in the waste management coupled with no control over illegal mining in these streams. NGT stringently emphasised that allocated funds should be utilized purely for the environmental restoration and to stop unscientific discharge of sewerage from the drains to these streams. Both the notice has come on the applications filed by environmental activist Raja Muzaffar who has asked for the intervention of NGT in such matters.
Water streams flowing in different parts of Kashmir valley are being exploited by people for illegal mining including extractions of boulders and sand. Local environmental activists have been appealing to the government of Jammu and Kashmir to intervene in such matters so that such illegal activities do not trigger some environmental disaster especially in the higher reaches of such water streams. When Raja Muzaffar Bhat recently approached NGT for its intervention to save the water stream of Romshi in Southern district of Pulwama, the tribunal has issued notices to the district authorities to stop the illegal mining in this water stream.
The NGT bench directed the District Magistrate Pulwama and State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to submit detailed reports before its next hearing scheduled for February 5th, 2024.
NGT intervention has already stopped illegal river bed mining in Doodh Ganga water stream and environmental activists expressed hope that it would be implemented on the Romshi water stream also in the coming months.