Srinagar, Dec 9, KNT: Rampant illegal mining has caused extensive damage to a stone protection wall along Nallah Rambi Ara in Pulwama district, triggering serious concerns over the safety of major industrial infrastructure and long-term ecological impact in the area.
Officials and locals said the stone wall or bund in Block No. 1, erected in 2014 by the Engineering Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation for flood control and river management, has been fully damaged due to continuous and unregulated extraction of river material. The damage has substantially weakened the riverbank and altered the natural flow of the nallah.
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The illegal mining activity has reportedly created a significant risk to the SIDCO Industrial Estate at Lassipora, which houses key industrial units and supporting infrastructure. Experts warn that further erosion could expose the estate to flooding and structural instability, particularly during high discharge seasons.
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Apart from infrastructure threats, the unchecked mining has also disturbed the local flora and fauna, with riverbed degradation impacting aquatic life and vegetation along the banks. Environmental observers said the damage reflects a broader failure to protect fragile river ecosystems from commercial exploitation.
Sources said the scale of destruction may force the government to spend crores of rupees again to refurbish and reconstruct the damaged bund, placing an additional burden on public funds. Questions are being raised over monitoring mechanisms and the apparent absence of timely intervention to stop illegal mining activities in the vulnerable stretch.
Notably, machinery and vehicles involved in illegal mining are being seized almost every night. Despite these repeated actions, the practice continues unabated, raising serious questions about the credibility, effectiveness, and enforcement mechanisms of the Geology and Mining Department. [KNT]
