Pulwama, May 17: Haphazard mining of minerals from Rambi Ara rivulet has aggrieved farmers from many villages in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Residents from different villages of Pulwama including Lassipora, Achan, Nikloora, Panjran, Nowpora and others informed Rising Kashmir that erosion of Rambi Ara river bed has affected availability of irrigation water to their paddy fields.
They added that due to persistent extraction of minor minerals over the past many years which include sand, pebbles and boulders by heavy machinery has deepened the water body.
They narrated that due to accrued depth many small streams which were loading water from the rivulet gained height over these years.
They said that as water level recedes in Rambi Ara the distributing streams fail to load affecting availability of irrigation water to their paddy fields.
Ghulam Mohammad Dar, a resident of Achan village said that they face acute shortage of irrigational water owing to deepening of Rambi ara.
“ We don’t get irrigation water for raising nursery beds for paddy,” he said, adding that shortage of irrigational water forced farmers for crops conversion.
He informed that dozens of earth movers from surrounding villages extract minerals from the rivulet day in and day out.
“They earn their livelihood but at the cost of poor farmers,” he said.
Dar appealed Deputy Commissioner Pulwama for visiting their area to have a first-hand observation of the situation.
Another resident, Mohammad Maqbool Najar, said that the miners should adhere to the mining plan.
“ They should avoid mining beyond stipulated depth and keep the mining area away from the main water body,” he said, adding that on ground no such adherence is being observed.
“ Trenches up to 70 feet deep have been dug,” he said, adding that they not only affect availability of irrigational water but cause accidents too.
District Mineral Officer, Geology and Mining Department Pulwama, Fayaz Ahmad said that mining in live streams is prohibited .
He informed that as per mining plan extraction is to be carried out at least 10 meters from embankments.
“ Mining plan permits extraction up to 3 meter in depth or up to level of ground water or whichever is first,” he said, adding that the plan also ensures that no mining takes place within 20 meters upstream and 20 meters downstream where distributaries load water from the main water body.
He also informed that deep trenches were not created in a year or two.
“It has resulted due to mining carried out over a decade,” he said.
He added that since he joined as DMO Pulwama he ensures that mining activity goes as per mining plan. He also said that they have launched a crackdown against illegal mining and since 1st May, 2023, they seized around 75 tippers, dumpers , and earth moving machines for illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of minerals.
“Fines worth rupees 8.48 lakh were also realised,” he said.
