Policy move on sand mining welcome: Environment Awareness Forum

21 June 2021

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Srinagar: Bhushan Parimoo, President of Environment Awareness Forum, has welcomed the initiative of the J&K Government to ‘prepare a policy document to revive sand mining’ in J&K.

“The Forum demands that this policy document to revive sand mining should cover all the rivers, their tributaries that flows through the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh under Indus basin. One yard stick principle should be applied for the extraction of sand, bajri in these rivers without discrimination and step motherly treatment, All rivers are dear and useful and need utmost protection. Manually, an age old traditional being employed over the centuries that has proved its worth to maintain ecological balance. It shall give ample opportunities to generate employment and provide gainful avenues to the rural youth besides operation shall cause minimum disturbance to the ecology of the water streams”, Mr Parimoo said in a statement to Ziraat Times.

“We have already caused replenishment damages and time has come to act scientifically, environment concern should not be sacrificed at the altar of personal benefits. Despite all our technological advances we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy, just to name a few. This year 2021 the theme is “We’re part of the solution”. Our solutions are in nature”, uniform approach is needed to the same problem, adhocism, and partisim is not the solution to save our water sources, same disease, same treatment”, Mr Parimoo said.

“As such, Environment Awareness Forum, demands to restore traditional manual method to take minor minerals, on yearly replenishment basis, for good health of the rivers in Jammu & Kashmir”, the statement added.