SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (PCC) has taken proactive steps to address the environmental crisis linked to mining activities in the Rambiara and Romshi streams of Pulwama district. Prompted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive and growing pressure from social activists, the PCC has taken a firm stance against the blatant violations of environmental guidelines by mining contractors.
In a recent development, the PCC has instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama to halt all mining operations in the designated areas along the Rambiara stream. This directive comes in response to the blatant disregard for environmental clearances and the misuse of heavy machinery by contractors, namely M/S Khursheed Ahmad and M/S Umnesh Kumar Sharma.
The orders issued by the PCC on February 2nd, underscores the severity of the situation, while the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama has been directed to ensure strict compliance with these orders and to stop the Project Proponents / contractors from carrying out mining activity in two blocks of Rambiara stream for violating the environmental guidelines set by PCC and other scientific bodies.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, a prominent social activist who has been at the forefront of the campaign against illegal mining, welcomed the PCC’s intervention. However, he questioned why the Pollution Control Committee did not take action in the past two years when the exploitation and destruction were rampant in Pulwama, Budgam, Shopian, and other districts.
He said, “I was forced to knock doors of NGT as JK Govt and Pollution Control’ Committee failed to take action. I will aks NGT to take action against PCC as well because they are equally responsible for this mess.”
