Jammu and Kashmir is bestowed with beautiful snow clad mountains, serene waters, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, meadows, dense green forests, salubrious and invigorating climate and what not. The natural resources like crystal water bodies, springs, lakes, wetlands, dense green forests etc. are not only adding to the serene beauty of the Jammu and Kashmir but are also contributing significantly to the economic development of all stakeholders’. Employment and revenue generation of Jammu and Kashmir are very dependent on the natural resources. Being an eco-fragile zone, Jammu and Kashmir is confronted with many environmental challenges due to global warming, deforestation, pollution, unplanned urbanisation, illegal riverbed mining and encroachments of water bodies. For the past many years, the natural resources adding to the mesmerising beauty of Jammu and Kashmir have been facing destruction at the hands of materialistic and greedy people. Jammu and Kashmir is one of the most ecologically sensitive places in India. The Sukhnag River known for its immense ecological value is also facing destruction and threat of extinction due to rampant and unabated illegal riverbed mining. Illegal riverbed mining has adversely affected the ecology of Sukhnag River including fish species. This in turn has affected the livelihood of lakhs of poor people relying on it. Sukhnag River is ecologically most sensitive and a biodiversity hotspot. It is perennial in nature and acts as a nervous system in hundreds of villages. It irrigates a vast area of agricultural and horticultural lands. Many Irrigation canals and drinking water filtration plants have their source in the Sukhnag. It has been providing pure drinking water to lakhs of people. It is famous for masonry stones, sand, boulders, bajri and clay for construction activities. It is a source of employment to thousands of people. It is also acting as a natural drainage system. Over the last many years, Illegal riverbed mining coupled with haphazard extraction of mineral resources with heavy machines is taking a heavy toll on the Sukkah River’s fragile nature. Due to lack of proper monitoring and supervision, illegal contractors continuously use heavy machines to devour the fragile nature of Sukhnag River. The illegal riverbed mining in the Sukhnag River is so rampant that illegal contractors and local tractor drivers are not only extracting masonry stones, sand, boulder, bajri and clay during daytime but also at night-time. Removing embankments built by the irrigation and flood control department meant for prevention of floods are not being spared. Most embankments of Sukhnag River have been removed. The illegal riverbed mining activities have changed the course of the Sukhnag River. Illegal contractors and tractor drivers are violating all environmental laws particularly Water (prevention and control pollution) 1974, mining acts and rules, EIA rules, fisheries act 2018, irrigation and flood control rules openly without any fear of laws of the land. They are also violating The Jammu and Kashmir mineral concession, transportation of minerals and prevention of illegal mining rules, 2016 that prohibits mining within 25 metres from the embankment. It is pertinent to mention the Department Geology and Mining issues legal contracts to contractors’ after completing all legal formalities but unfortunately, same contractors are taking undue advantage of legal contracts for their vested interests and are causing huge damage to the Sukhnag River by hoodwinking the concerned authorities.
The government alone cannot save the River Sukhnag from dying but people have to work in close coordination with the government, particularly inhabitants surrounding the River Suknag. No concerned department should allow any illegal mining in the Sukhnag River and they must speed up the process of field visits in order to check the unabated illegal mining and pollution of the dying River Suknag. Enactment of more stringent laws, strict implementation of existing laws and heavy fines and imprisonment of violators of laws is the need of hour.
Illegal riverbed mining in the Suknag River has caused severe water pollution and thousands of innocent people of the adjoining areas are suffering from water borne diseases’ like typhoid, jaundice and other intestinal diseases. The present condition of Sukhnag River is very pathetic and a vast area of agricultural and horticultural land is turning into dry and deserted land in the very near future. The habitat of fish and other microorganisms’ that maintain ecological balance in nature were disrupted. It is pertinent to mention that Sukhnag River was once very famous for trout that have become extinct now and even a fingerling of other fish species cannot be seen. The illegal, unscientific and rampant riverbed mining in Sukhnag has led to annihilation, extinction and extermination of all aquatic flora and fauna species. People of Beerwah, ohangam, chewdara, Rathson, warihama, aripanthan, makhama villages are facing acute shortage of drinking water. It is ironic that some careless people continue to throw biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste into the Sukhnag River that is posing a great threat to delicate and fragile sukhnag. There is an urgent need to protect the Sukhnag River from dying. The concerned departments should join hands together for its protection as the Sukhnag River has lost its potential to provide mineral resources for about one decade and allowing illegal mining in Sukhnag River is like hammering the final nail in the coffin. There is a need to nudge the behaviour of people by making them environmentally ethical. Creating awareness among the people about the importance of Sukhnag River can go a long way for its restoration and preservation. Concrete policies need to be formed by the J & K government for protection and preservation of the Sukhnag and their strict implementation at ground level can ensure long run protection of the dying Sukhnag River. The government needs to improve the policies with regard to sustainable mining in all water bodies and adopt a good ecological approach to mining in order to make it less damaging to the Sukhnag and its aquatic flora and fauna. Formulation and execution of plans for conservation of Sukhnag River is the need of the hour. Concerted efforts and conservation planning are required involving all stakeholders for conservation of sukhnag otherwise we will lose the precious asset that is on verge of extinction due to rampant and illegal mining by vested interests. According to Environment policy group members Advocate Nadeem Qadri, Er. Ajaz Rasool, Faiz Bakhshi, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Syed Farhat, Syed Adil if the present condition of unabated illegal riverbed mining continues in the sukhnag, it will become extinct very soon and bring disastrous results in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the duty of every stakeholder to protect and preserve the sukhnag and other water bodies from dying for the benefit of all people, the environment and the brighter and green future of Jammu and Kashmir. The government alone cannot save the River Sukhnag from dying but people have to work in close coordination with the government, particularly inhabitants surrounding the River Suknag. No concerned department should allow any illegal mining in the Sukhnag River and they must speed up the process of field visits in order to check the unabated illegal mining and pollution of the dying River Suknag. Enactment of more stringent laws, strict implementation of existing laws and heavy fines and imprisonment of violators of laws is the need of hour.
(The author is a teacher at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwa, Budgam. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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