Budgam March 3 (KNS): As illegal Riverbed Mining continues in Shali Ganga stream in Panzan area of Budgam , the locals have now issued a legal notice through their counsel to the District Mineral Officer (DMO) Budgam and top Govt officers asking him to stop the illegal practice.
The legal notice which has been sent to DMO Budgam and Govt officials including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Director Geology & Mining JK Govt, Member Secretary Pollution Control Committee and Deputy Commissioner Budgam says that mining work allotted to one Abdul Rashid Mir (project proponent) through e auction at block number 10 in Shali Ganga nallah was blatantly violating Environmental norms and rules particularly the Jammu and Kashmir Minor Mineral Concession, Storage, Transportation of Minerals, Management and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules 2016 , Biological Diversity Act 2002 , The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)Act 1974 and particularly Specific Condition number 53 of JK Environmental Impact Assessment Authority.
“The project proponent is leaving no stone unturned to destroy and damage the environment and has neither installed functional and operational CCTVs on the mining site nor is selling the river bed material as per 50% concessional rates to local population and adjoining areas. Further the said PP is openly using JCB’s, L&T, hydraulic excavators etc which is prohibited under mineral rules 2016 and conditions laid by JK Environmental Impact Assessment Authority” reads the legal notice issued by Badrul Dujja Advocate J&K High Court who is the counsel for the petitioners.
The locals have alleged that the project proponent had already sublet the work to some unauthorized persons who have plundered the Shali Ganga to a great extent during the last one year. " We have requested SDM , DC , DMO several times to act against the illegal mining activity. We get assurances but on the ground there is no action. We have now issued a legal notice to Govt and if there is no action we will seek judicial intervention by filing a formal case in High Court or NGT " said Ghulam Nabi a local resident of Panzan Chadoora. (KNS)