Sand mafia causes damage to Jhelum embankment in Pampore

Pulwama, July 01: On the intervening night of June 30 and July 1, sand mafia caused damage to the embankment of River Jhelum in Khankabagh area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Local residents, alarmed by the illegal activity, took prompt action to prevent further destruction to the river body.
Ashiq Ahmad, a resident of Khankahbagh, said that the youth of the area seized three vehicles used by the perpetrators, although the culprits managed to escape with an earthmover.
Ahmad said they immediately informed the authorities about the incident.
He narrated that by Monday morning, officials from the Geology and Mining Department, along with police and revenue department officers, arrived at the scene to assess the damage.
The locals informed that the earthmover was seized by Geology and Mining Department officials from Galander area of Pampore.
According to the residents, the damaged embankment had previously breached during the 2014 floods, causing significant devastation.
The swift action by the locals prevented further deterioration, but the incident highlighted the ongoing threat posed by illegal sand mining in the area.
Nazir Ahmad Mir, Mineral officer Pampore, confirmed that they received information from locals regarding the illegal mining activities in Khankahbagh.
“We reached the spot, but the individuals involved had fled with their machine,” he said, noting that the locals managed to seize three vehicles involved in the activity.
Mir emphasized that illegal mining would not be tolerated and promised strict action against the offenders. He also promised legal action against the land owner.
He mentioned that the illegal miners had not only damaged the embankment but also cut down several trees in the process.
Mir further stated that the department had recently launched a drive in Patalbagh, where they lodged FIRs against 25 individuals, destroyed ramps used for illegal mining, imposed fines, and seized multiple vehicles.
“Our drive will continue,” Mir added, signalling an ongoing crackdown on illegal mining activities in the region.
Local residents reported that the embankment was damaged by the sand mafia to create an access path for extracting sand from the river.
They warned that the damaged embankment poses a flood threat to around 450 households in the area.
Residents, including Ashiq Ahmad, have called for severe punishment for those responsible for endangering their community.
Tehsildar Pampore, Malik Asif Ahmad, said that such incidents often occur under the cover of night and commended the bravery of the locals in seizing the vehicles involved.
“Our teams immediately reached the spot and formally seized the machinery,” he said, adding that they would recommend the cancellation of the vehicle owners’ licenses and ensure strict legal action against the offenders.
The Tehsildar informed that he has instructed the concerned Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Irrigation Department to undertake necessary repairs to the embankment to ensure the safety of the households in the area.