Legislative House Committee reviews environmental challenges in Sgr

Srinagar, July 3: The House Committee on Environment of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly convened a crucial review meeting Thursday at the Assembly Complex in Srinagar to assess pressing environmental concerns, with a particular focus on issues related to the Geology and Mining Department.The meeting was chaired by Committee Chairman Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and attended by legislators Peerzada Mohammad Syed, Rajiv Jasrotia, Dr Sajjad Shafi, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad, Zafar Ali Khatana, Khurshied Ahmed, Mushtaq Guroo, Irshad Rasool Kar and Yudhvir Sethi. Highlighting the delicate ecological balance of the region, Chairman Tarigami stated: “Development must not come at the cost of the environment. All developmental activities must align with the protection of local flora and fauna.”He expressed concern over the widespread issue of illegal mining and underscored its adverse impact on groundwater levels, agriculture, and the wider ecosystem. The Chairman assured that the Committee would carry out on-ground inspections of mining sites to ensure compliance with environmental norms. “The unchecked mining of natural resources poses a serious threat to environmental health,” Tarigami said, adding that “routine inspections must be undertaken to ensure no environmental degradation takes place.” He called for strict punitive action against violators of mining regulations and urged measures to mitigate damage to riverbanks and beds, which he said were disrupting irrigation and threatening the livelihoods of those dependent on agriculture and horticulture.He further instructed the department to collaborate closely with environmental experts, NGOs, scientists, and civil society to bolster conservation efforts across Jammu and Kashmir. Committee members echoed the Chairman’s concerns and unanimously called for stronger enforcement to curb illegal mining activities. Principal Secretary, Geology and Mining, Anil Kumar Singh, briefed the Committee on the department’s initiatives to combat illegal mining, highlighting the use of technology-driven monitoring systems to improve enforcement and surveillance across the Union Territory. The meeting was also attended by Director, Geology and Mining, S.P. Rukwal; Chairman, Pollution Control Committee, Vasu Yadav and other senior officials.