Environmental Catastrophe: Illegal Sand Mining In Kashmir's Rivers
- 3 years ago
#Environment #Catastrophe #SandMining #Kashmir
Story, Camera & Edit by
Aaqib Fayaz & Bhumika Saraswati
Unabated sand mining is happening in different regions of Kashmir, where heavy machinery is being used to extract sand from rivers and canals. The sand mining, which is creating a disastrous situation for the environment, is taking place in the Rimbiara & Veshav rivers of Kashmir, which also function as tributaries to the River Jhelum.
This is happening after India scrapped the region's semi-autonomous status in August 2019, bringing in developments that spelled disaster for many, as rules changed and outside players flooded the mining sector.
Many irrigation canals and water channels crisscrossing the apple-rich belts of Shopian are running dry due to illegal and unabated mining of rivers.
Locals living near the river bed, fear that their villages could be washed away during the next flood if the mining continues.
According to the Minor Mineral Concession, Storage, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules 2016, mining is forbidden in riverbeds “below the depth of 3 meters or water level, whichever is lesser”.
However, mining by heavy machines has left deep and wide craters in many river beds in Kashmir. Experts suggest this could destroy the environment to an extent where it will become impossible to revive it.
Story, Camera & Edit by
Aaqib Fayaz & Bhumika Saraswati
Unabated sand mining is happening in different regions of Kashmir, where heavy machinery is being used to extract sand from rivers and canals. The sand mining, which is creating a disastrous situation for the environment, is taking place in the Rimbiara & Veshav rivers of Kashmir, which also function as tributaries to the River Jhelum.
This is happening after India scrapped the region's semi-autonomous status in August 2019, bringing in developments that spelled disaster for many, as rules changed and outside players flooded the mining sector.
Many irrigation canals and water channels crisscrossing the apple-rich belts of Shopian are running dry due to illegal and unabated mining of rivers.
Locals living near the river bed, fear that their villages could be washed away during the next flood if the mining continues.
According to the Minor Mineral Concession, Storage, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules 2016, mining is forbidden in riverbeds “below the depth of 3 meters or water level, whichever is lesser”.
However, mining by heavy machines has left deep and wide craters in many river beds in Kashmir. Experts suggest this could destroy the environment to an extent where it will become impossible to revive it.