Budgam Feb 16 ^:(KNS) Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement has demanded that detailed project reports (DPRs) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports of mining contracts given to excavate stones and boulders in Doodh Ganga and Shali Ganga in district Budgam be made public as the contractors were violating the norms given in DPR.  Chairman RTI Movement while leading a protest demonstration at Madbal Sogam in Chadoora on Wednesday said that Doodg Ganga was under the verge of destruction as dozens of JCBs and earth movers were being sued to take out stones and boulders from Doodh Ganga. He said man-made sinkholes were created around the river bed at many places. 

The residents of Sogam , Madbal and adjoining villagers in central Kashmir’s Chadoora on Wednesday  held a massive protest against the Govt and contractor for destroying the Doodg Ganga river. The locals alleged that officials of Irrigation & Flood Control , Geology and Mining and Revenue Department were facilitating illegal mining by allowing illegal works which have no mention in the DPR.

“Doodh Ganga has been turned into a mining bed for the last several months as only 1 to 2 meters depth is allowed as per DPR. Unfortunately the DPR or EIA report is not available in the public domain. We demand that these documents be uploaded on Budagm district official website. I have seen JCB’s  excavating  stones by going as deep as  20 meters which will deplete water flow in the river, having a direct impact on agriculture in almost 26 villages downstream. This will also cause floods in the area as volume of water will be more at different locations due to haphazard mining  “ said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat.(KNS)