Avinash Azad
In a damning revelation that puts the spotlight back on the unchecked mining practices across Jammu and Kashmir, the government on Tuesday, responding to a barrage of questions raised by 14 MLAs in the Legislative Assembly, admitted to a patchy regulatory framework, delayed clearances, and ongoing illegal operations in several districts — even as ordinary citizens continue to reel under an unprecedented surge in construction material prices.
The starred questions—clubbed together by legislators Ali Mohammad Dar, Mir Saifullah, Zafar Ali Khatana, Khurshid Ahmed, Sheikh Khurshied, Justice Hasnain Masoodi, Hilal Akbar Lone, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, Ajaz Ahmad Jan, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Surinder Kumar, Dr. Sajad Shafi, Chander Prakash Ganga, and Surjeet Singh Salathia—ranged from environmental degradation and banned operations to the fate of traditional quarrying and the skyrocketing cost of minor minerals like sand, boulders, and gypsum.
Stone Craft vs Bureaucracy: The Case of Saderkoot
One of the most telling disclosures was around the historic limestone quarries in Saderkoot, Bandipora. Despite local demands and precedents from states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, the government clarified it has no intent to classify the area’s limestone as a minor mineral unless it falls below certain thresholds — effectively stalling any revival of the region’s centuries-old stone craft. A committee was recently constituted to explore alternatives, but no concrete decision has been reached.
Samba: Mining Not Banned, But Stalled
While denying an outright ban on mining in Samba, the government admitted that operations in 16 of the 19 auctioned blocks were suspended due to pending environmental clearances. For now, it relies on short-term permits and material sourced from neighboring districts. Despite assurances of easing supply for PMAY beneficiaries and public infrastructure, locals continue to face material shortages and inflated costs.
Poonch: Surveillance in the Pipeline, but Violations Continue
In Poonch’s Haveli Constituency, illegal extraction continues to be a challenge. While the administration claims to have constituted multi-departmental task forces and flying squads, actual on-ground enforcement remains questionable. The Mining Department has pinned its hopes on a Satellite-based Mining Surveillance System being developed with BISAG, but the system is still in the pipeline.
Bridges, Floods and Mining Blame Game
In a striking contradiction, the government denied that illegal mining had damaged the Birma and Salmeh bridges—used by over 57,000 people—blaming instead the 2021 monsoon floods. However, the timing and proximity of aggressive mining operations near the riverbeds raise questions the administration has yet to answer convincingly.
A Rising Price for Progress
Perhaps most alarming is the admission that no dedicated study has been conducted on groundwater depletion due to riverbed mining in Udhampur, despite visible signs of ecological strain. Meanwhile, locals allege that the mining policy has led to a 300-400% hike in the price of sand and stone — disproportionately hitting PMAY beneficiaries and the rural poor.
Transparency and Tech – A Work in Progress
To counter the chaos, the government claims to have digitized the challan system via a secured e-portal, selected through GeM tendering. Yet, without real-time accountability and ground-level enforcement, the portal is unlikely to stem the tide of illegal operations or black-market transactions.
No Auctions, No Relief in Baramulla In Baramulla, not a single mineral block has been auctioned in the last two years, with only gypsum extraction continuing in Uri constituency — yielding over 5 lakh metric tonnes in the last 24 months. The delay in auctions has further throttled legal supply, pushing contractors and locals toward unregulated sources.
