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| Illegal mining disturbs habitat of wild animals in Kashmir | | | Majid Ahmad
Srinagar, Sept 23: Illegal mining and blasting of mountains for extraction of raw material by greedy cement plant owners has disturbed the habitat of wild animals in various areas of the Valley forcing them to take refuge in residential areas.While the valley is blessed with lofty mountains, which play an important role in maintaining its fragile eco-system, reckless extraction of stones and other raw material illegally was gradually devouring the mountains and subsequently affecting flora and fauna.
Reports said mining was rampant in the catchments of the Dachigam National Park and Khrew-Khanmoh Conserve Reserve, which is the last bastion of critically endangered Hangul or Kashmir Stag.
"The heavy blasting near the forest areas pushes the wild animals towards residential areas. Some leopards have taken refuge near an abandoned factory near Khanmoh.
Besides the blasting is so deafening that it has damaged many houses," residents of Khanmoh told Early Times.
Environmentalists say the mining of limestone and the harmful emissions of over a dozen cement factories in the fragile zone are adversely affecting the human population and wildlife besides saffron and almond production.In the absence of any official clearance, the mined areas are not covered under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study neither has Environment Management Plan (EMP) been formulated for eco-restoration of the mined areas.
A senior SPCB official said the Gypsum factories in north Kashmir's Uri were also operating without its consent and devouring the mountains for extraction of raw material.The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 prohibits destruction of habitat of a wild animal in a National Park, Sanctuary or Conservation reserve.
The wildlife conservation strategy 2002, mandates that "land falling within 10 kms of the boundaries of National Parks and Sanctuaries should be notified as eco-fragile zones under Environment (Protection) Act and Rules.A senior Geologist said the unplanned mining directly contributes to air, noise and water pollution, threatening the wild animals in the Dachigam National Park. "The heavy blasting in the area increases the vibration level and causes soil erosion. Emission levels in the affected areas were higher than the prescribed emission of Air Pollution prescribed by the Ministry of Environment," he said.
"This is affecting human life, vegetation and wildlife. Due to heavy blasting the noise level in the areas has gone beyond permissible limits. Water in these areas show impurities of dissolved gases of Hydrogen Sulphate, carbon dioxide besides dissolved minerals of salts of calcium, magnesium and sodium," he added.
Experts say that as per the Mines Act 1952, a lessee is required to make benches which shall be sloped at the angle less than 60 degree and height of the bench shall not exceed six metres.
"However the mining rules are being openly flouted in Zewan, Pantha Chowk, Verinag stone quarries. The contractors resort to under-cutting the mountains, which leads to its collapse. It is ironical that the Department of Geology and Mining allots the leases without ground work and allows vandalization of vital mountains which house the rich bio-diversity," sources said. |
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