New Delhi, Feb 11: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the constitution of a joint committee of central and local authorities to inspect alleged illegal clay and sand mining in the Karewa lands of Pulwama and Budgam districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
Taking serious note of a petition filed by environmental activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, the NGT’s Principal Bench, headed by Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairperson) and Expert Member Dr Senthil Vel, ordered a site inspection to assess the extent of environmental damage.
The tribunal directed that the joint committee comprise representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Chandigarh, along with the Deputy Commissioners of Budgam and Pulwama. The Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama has been appointed as the coordinating agency for the exercise. The J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) will assist the team.
According to the petition, illegal extraction of clay, sand and bajri in Zadoora and Rangeen Kultreh villages of Pulwama and parts of Chadoora in Budgam has allegedly damaged around 1,000 kanals of land, affecting apple, plum and almond orchards. The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Saurabh Sharma, informed the tribunal that geotagged photographs and a list of affected farmers were placed on record.
The tribunal was also apprised of an RTI response from the Mining Department stating that no environmental clearance was required for the mining activity—an issue that reportedly drew the Bench’s attention.
In its order, the NGT directed the joint committee to visit the sites with prior notice to the applicant, ascertain the extent of illegal mining, determine the quantity of material extracted, identify those responsible, and recommend remedial and punitive measures. The panel has also been asked to verify the status of environmental clearances held by those involved.
The committee has been given 10 weeks to complete the exercise and submit a status report to the Tribunal.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on May 18, 2026.
