Baramulla: Acting on Supreme Court (SC) directions to safeguard protected forests, the District Magistrate Baramulla ordered the immediate closure of all gypsum mining operations within one kilometre radius of the Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary.
In an official order, the district magistrate cited the apex court’s February 27, 2024 judgment in Civil Appeal Nos. 255–257 of 2023, which prohibits mining activities inside Eco Sensitive Zones (ESZ) and within a radius of one kilometre from any protected forest.
The order followed a report from the Wildlife Warden North Kashmir Division, Sopore, confirming that 14 gypsum mines in Uri and Boniyar subdivisions fall inside the prohibited zone.
The affected units include M/s Syed Mohammad Tahir, Jhelum Valley Gypsum, Baba Chemicals, Gee Emm Industries, Kohinoor Gypsum, Tower Chemicals, Snow White Gypsum, Kashmir Mineral Mills, Noor Mohammad Trumboo, Syed Mohammad Irshad, Khyber Industries, New Sigma Industries, Peer Panchal Industries and Raz Chemicals.
Officials including the Senior Superintendent of Police, SDM Uri, Wildlife Warden Sopore and mineral authorities have been directed to ensure immediate enforcement of the closure order and prevent any further mining in violation of the Supreme Court mandate.
ZIRAAT TIMES ADDS
In cement manufacturing, clinker (produced by heating limestone, clay, and other materials in a kiln) is ground with about 3–5% gypsum.
The main role of gypsum is to control the setting time of cement. Without gypsum, cement would set almost immediately after adding water, making it unworkable. Most of Kashmir’s cement factories use this gypsum in their production.
