Says mineral concession holders must restore, rehabilitate mining-affected land before abandoning sites
Srinagar, Sep 25 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that no specific action plan has been formulated exclusively for the restoration and ecological rejuvenation of degraded Karewas in Jammu and Kashmir or the Chadoora constituency.
The information was provided by the Mining Department in response to a question raised by Chadoora MLA Ali Mohammad Dar regarding restoration and ecological rejuvenation of degraded Karewas and environmental compensation in cases of unauthorised mineral extraction.
The department said mineral extraction in Karewa areas is regulated under the J&K Minor Mineral Concession, Storage, Transportation and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules, 2016, along with other applicable statutory guidelines. It said district survey reports prepared as per guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are also taken into consideration.
The government further stated that measures are being undertaken to prevent unauthorised mining, with enforcement teams and agencies taking punitive action under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 in cases of violations.
However, it said that while there is no exclusive restoration plan for degraded Karewas, every mineral concession holder is required to undertake restoration, reclamation and rehabilitation of land affected by mining and complete the work before abandoning the mine.
On environmental compensation, the department said Rs 7.46 lakh and Rs 8.33 lakh had been imposed on lease holders of e-auctioned Mineral Blocks 11 and 12 through NGT orders dated March 15, 2024. The department noted that the order was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court on May 15, 2024.
The government also said Rs 1 crore in environmental compensation had been imposed in connection with illegal mining in Doodhganga Nallah through an order dated March 15, 2022. The amount was utilised for restoration works in Doodhganga and Mathan Kull.
Separately, Rs 3.10 crore in environmental compensation was imposed on NKC Projects Pvt. Ltd. for violations of environmental clearance conditions during extraction from Shaliganga Nallah. The issue has also been raised in the Assembly in connection with mining-related environmental violations in the Chadoora area.
The department’s reply also listed seven completed protection and restoration works in the Doodhganga and Mamath Nallah areas, with a combined sanctioned amount of Rs 100 lakh, all showing 100 per cent physical progress—(KNO)
