Haq Insaaf Council up in arm’s against illegal Mining Submitted Representation to LG through DDC Poonch

Poonch May 06:–Deputation of Haq Insaaf Council submitted a Representation for implementation of Environment Protection Act 1986,SRO 302 2017,NGT Guidelines to LG Administration through DDC Poonch for immediately banning and sealing illegal Mining, operation of illegal stone crushers, Hot and Wet mix Plants, Stone Quarry in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in common and twin Border Districts Rajouri Poonch in Particular.

Deputation was led by Advocate Zeshan Syed Chairman Haq Insaaf Council consistently working for the protection and safeguarding of environment and ecology.

Zeshan Syed said that the life of the applicant and in fact of every citizen of is put into continuous danger due to non-compliance to Laws, Rules & Regulations so established. More particularly the Mines and Mineral Act 1957 and Rules framed by State Government (SRO 302 of 2017) are put in abeyance by intentionally or unintentionally allowing the illegal operation of Stone Crushers, Hot and Wet Mix Plants, illegal mining, in violation of NGT guidelines. Which contaminates the air in different temperatures especially when in contact with high temperature and the byproducts of illegal mining, stone crushers polluting land, air, water bodies have been linked with various cancers in human body.

He apprised DDC that 30-feet wide Nallahs have been widened to almost 100 feet across Jammu and Kashmir in common and twin Borders Districts Rajouri Poonch in particular, as mining is being done on the dried-up riverbeds, which is again a violation of the norms. Furthermore, unplanned stone quarrying operations in the river beds has disrupted the existing movement of surface and groundwater and also interrupted natural water recharge leading to reduced availability of drinking water for the residents and particularly for wildlife near and downstream from the quarrying and illegal mining sites. Moreover a number of abandoned excavated sites adjoining Rajouri and Poonch Rivers are also noticed in the area.He elaborated that land near the river beds and adjoining area once used by the locals for grazing of their cattle has got transformed into dumping ground for the left out materials by these stone crushing and quarrying units.
DDC gave patient hearing to the Deputation and ensured that he will not only forward the Representation to LG office but will act against illegal mining.
He sought support of common masses to curb illegal mining. . Other’s who were present on the occasion include Mohd Mashooq, Ikhlaq Mehmood, Safeer Ahmed, Shiraz Mir and other’s.