Now Reading: 18 lakh MT illegal mining in Budgam, Pulwama: NGT report
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18 lakh MT illegal mining in Budgam, Pulwama: NGT report
The Story in Brief
A joint committee report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has confirmed large-scale illegal earth mining in the karewas of Budgam and Pulwama districts. The report states that over 18 lakh metric tons of clay, sand, and gravel were illegally excavated between 2019 and 2024, with 13 lakh MT taken from Gowherpora and Rangeen Kultreh villages in Budgam and about 5 lakh MT from Zadoora village in Pulwama.
The report, signed by officials from the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), CPCB, MoEFCC, and district administrations, notes that mining at Gowherpora by NKC Projects Pvt Ltd was carried out without environmental clearance or an approved mining plan. The report attributes the illegal excavation to the law and order situation after Article 370 abrogation and the COVID-19 pandemic. Petitioner Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat has alleged the actual quantity is 100 times more and has called for a CBI probe. The case is listed for hearing on November 4.
In a separate development, the NGT has also taken up the issue of shrinking wetlands in Kashmir. The JKPCC informed the tribunal that 27 new wetlands of over one hectare have been identified, but the NGT noted the filed information was incomplete and directed the committee to furnish full details, including area and encroachments. The next hearing in that case is on November 6.
Indian Opinion Analysis
greaterkashmir.com's coverage of the illegal mining report focuses heavily on the petitioner's allegations of a massive cover-up and demands for a CBI probe, giving the story a government-critical and sensationalist tone. The article leads with the official report's findings but spends most of its space on the petitioner's claim that the 18 lakh MT figure is a gross underestimate and on his naming of a specific company, NKC Projects Pvt Ltd. The middle-ground read is that the joint committee's own report is the primary evidence, the petitioner's unproven assertions about the scale and about official collusion are reported as his opinion, not as established fact. The coming hearing on November 4 will determine the next procedural step.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (2): greaterkashmir.com (sensationalist), greaterkashmir.com (2) (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
