Mining operations halted in four mineral blocks in Pulwama

Pulwama, Dec 16: Authorities have halted mining operations in four mineral blocks across different streams in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The latest closures include one mineral block in Nallah Romeshi near Wahibugh and another in Sasara Nallah near Bandzoo.
This brings the total number of closed blocks in the district to four.
Earlier this year, two mineral blocks—one in Nallah Romeshi near Rohmoo and another in Nallah Rambiara near Lassipora—were shut down in February 2024. These closures followed directives from the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) based on instructions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
On December 5, 2024, the NGT issued fresh notices to senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, IGP Kashmir, and Pulwama’s Deputy Commissioner, seeking their responses by March 28, 2025 over alleged environment clearance guideline violations in Sasara stream along Bandzoo- Chatripora stretch.
The notices were issued following allegations that contractors were violating environmental clearance guidelines by using heavy machinery like JCBs, which has been explicitly prohibited since 2022.
District Mineral Officer (DMO), Geology and Mining Pulwama, Er Mohammad Manzoor, confirmed that mining activities in all four mineral blocks have been halted.
“We will be submitting our response to the NGT’s notice regarding the Sasara block,” he said.
Refuting claims of machinery usage in Sasara mineral block, the DMO said that contractors have been directed to carry out only manual extraction of minerals, ensuring compliance with environmental norms.
“No machines will be allowed in mining operations,” he emphasised.
The blocks were originally auctioned to contractors in 2019.
Environmental activists were raising concern over alleged use of heavy machinery in the mining operations which, according to them, caused severe damage to the riverbed of these streams.
Following these concerns, Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Surinder Kumar Choudhry, who also holds the mining portfolio, had directed local authorities to report and act on allegations.