National Green Tribunal Orders Inspection of Illegal Mining in Kashmir

By Syed Sammar Mehdi

New Delhi – The National Green Tribunal has taken action following a petition regarding alleged illegal clay and sand mining in Pulwama and Budgam districts of Kashmir. The petition highlighted the damage of nearly 1,000 kanals of Karewa land in the region.

The case was brought forward by environmental activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat and was heard on February 6 by the tribunal’s principal bench, led by Justice Prakash Srivastava and expert member Dr. Senthil Vel.

The tribunal has instructed the formation of a joint committee involving representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Deputy Commissioners of Pulwama and Budgam, and officials from the regional office of the environment ministry in Chandigarh. The Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama has been designated as the coordinating agency.

A team has been tasked to visit the affected sites with prior notice to the petitioner. Advocate Saurabh Sharma, representing Dr. Bhat, informed the tribunal about the illegal extraction of clay, sand, and bajri in certain villages of Pulwama and Budgam, leading to the significant damage of agricultural land.

The tribunal’s order includes a notice to the respondents and directs the joint committee to assess the extent of illegal mining, determine the quantity of extracted materials, identify those responsible, and report on any actions taken. The committee is also mandated to review environmental clearances and propose necessary measures.

The committee is expected to complete its investigation within 10 weeks and submit a status report to the tribunal. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for May 18, 2026.