SRINAGAR: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), in a significant directive, has issued a notice to the Jammu and Kashmir Government regarding the operation of illegal stone crushers in the Doda district, particularly along the banks of the Chenab River. The tribunal has instructed the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) to submit a comprehensive report listing all legal and illegal stone crushing units in the district.
The matter was heard by the NGT’s Principal Bench in New Delhi on December 14, with a panel comprising Justice Prakash Srivastava, the Chairperson of the NGT, and Dr Senthil Veil, an expert member. The case was brought before the tribunal by environmental activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat through his counsel, Advocate Saurabh Sharma. The tribunal directed the Member Secretary of the JKPCC to file a detailed report identifying the stone crushers and outlining the extent of illegal mining and muck dumping in the Chenab River.
The tribunal’s order stated that an advance copy of the report must be provided to the petitioner’s counsel, who will then take necessary steps to address the violations and serve notices to the stone crushers involved. Additionally, the Member Secretary of the JKPCC has been asked to detail the environmental damage caused by these activities.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat highlighted the illegal operation of 10 to 12 stone crushers near the banks of the Chenab River, located within a five to six-kilometre radius of Doda town. He alleged that these units rely on illegally excavated stone material from the surrounding mountains, particularly along the Doda-Kishtwar and Doda-Jammu roads. Advocate Saurabh Sharma emphasised that the illegal crushers are dumping waste into the Chenab, causing severe environmental hazards and air pollution. He further cautioned that Doda’s location in a seismic zone, coupled with past incidents of land subsidence, makes illegal mining activities potentially catastrophic for the region.
The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for April 14, 2025.
