People allege sand mafia hand in glove with Irrigation and Flood Control, Geology and Mining, Fisheries Department and administration, demands high level investigation
KARAMAT QAYOOM
BARAMULLA , FEBRUARY,12 :
The River Jhelum, once the lifeline of Kashmir’s picturesque Baramulla district, is now gasping for survival. The deep-rooted sand mafia, operating with brazen impunity, has unleashed an environmental catastrophe, stripping the river of its vitality and leaving behind a trail of ecological devastation. Despite the presence of multiple government departments tasked with safeguarding the river, illegal sand and gravel extraction continues unabated, crippling the river’s aquatic life, disrupting water supply systems, and threatening the region’s fragile ecosystem.
The illegal extraction of sand and gravel from the Jhelum’s banks has reached alarming proportions, with heavy machinery operating day and night in blatant violation of environmental norms. The river’s aquatic flora and fauna have suffered irreparable damage, while drinking water and irrigation systems have been severely compromised. The unchecked plunder has not only stripped the riverbed of its natural resources but has also destabilized the river’s hydraulic regime, making low-lying areas in Baramulla and Sopore vulnerable to catastrophic floods.
A Mockery of Accountability: Seized Materials and Shady Auctions
In a feeble attempt to address the issue, authorities recently seized a substantial quantity of illegally extracted material near Khadniyar, opposite the Police Training Center (PTC) in Sheeri. However, the subsequent actions of the authorities have raised serious questions about their commitment to curbing this environmental menace.
The seized material, amounting to 1900 cubic meters, was auctioned on January 9, 2025, in the presence of officials from the District Mineral Office and the Old Police Chowki, Baramulla. Shockingly, the highest bidder for the auction was none other than Aaqib Hameed Lone, a local contractor from Khadniyar, who had illegally extracted the material in the first place. Lone deposited Rs. 3,33,011 through a cheque (No. 556171) and was granted permission to lift the seized material within five days.
This blatant recycling of seized material back to the very individuals responsible for its illegal extraction has sparked outrage among locals and environmental activists. The Executive Engineer of the Flood Control Department, Baramulla, in a letter (No. FCSDB/895 dated January 13, 2025) to the District Mineral Officer, Baramulla, authorized the auction, stating, “You are authorized to allow the highest bidder, namely Aaqib Hameed Lone, to lift the material which was auctioned on 09-01-2025.”
The seizure of a huge quantity of illegally extracted material near Khadniyar, opposite the Police Training Center (PTC) Sheeri, was a rare instance of authorities taking action against the sand mafia. However, the subsequent decision to auction the seized material back to the same contractor, Aaqib Hameed Lone, who had illegally extracted it in the first place, has raised serious questions about the integrity of the process. Instead of utilizing the seized material for public projects like the construction of the ACB Building in Kanispora, authorities granted another permission for fresh extraction of 400 cubic meters of shoal from the riverbank near Sheeri, opposite the zoo. This decision not only undermined the purpose of the seizure but also led to further damage to the riverbank, including areas near the PTC and the Eco Park viewpoint. The move has been widely criticized as a blatant endorsement of illegal activities, exposing the collusion between authorities and the sand mafia. By allowing the same contractor to profit from his illegal actions, the authorities have not only failed to protect the Jhelum but have also perpetuated the cycle of exploitation, leaving the river and its ecosystem to suffer irreparable harm.
Double Standards: Permission for Further Extraction
Adding to the farce, the Police Construction Division, PHQ, Jammu, sought permission to extract 400 cubic meters of gravel from Nallah Mukh, opposite the PTC Sheeri, for the construction of an ACB building in Kanispora. In a letter (No. PCD/PHQ/24-25/5789-91 dated December 5, 2024) to the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, the Executive Engineer of the Police Construction Division stated, “There is an urgent requirement of lifting Nallah Mukh for filling 400 cubic meters.”
The Flood Control Sub Division, Baramulla, granted this permission in a letter (No. I&FCDB/CS-14/7767-71 dated January 20, 2025) to the District Mineral Officer, Baramulla, allowing M/s Abraq Infrastructure LLP to extract 400.58 cubic meters of shoal from the right side of the River Jhelum at Sheeri, opposite the zoo. The letter referenced an earlier recommendation by the Assistant Executive Engineer, Flood Control Sub Division, Baramulla (Letter No. FCSDB/886 dated January 8, 2025), and stated that the extraction must be done “scientifically” without disturbing the waterway.
However, locals argue that such permissions are merely a smokescreen for continued exploitation. “The conditions mentioned in the letter are a joke. How can they claim to extract material scientifically when heavy machinery is being used round the clock?” asked Ghulam Rasool, a prominent environmental activist.
A River Under Siege: Voices from the Ground
Local residents from Baramulla’s Juhama, Delina Ghat, Khadinyaar, Drangbal, Narathal, and Sheeri areas have voiced their anguish over the relentless exploitation of the Jhelum. Ishfaq Ahmad, a resident, lamented, “The river is losing its sheen. Illegal mining has been going on for years, and no one is held accountable. The government turns a blind eye, and the sand mafia operates with absolute impunity.”
Another resident from Drangbal village highlighted the devastating impact on aquatic life. “When they dig the sand, they dig deep, leaving behind massive cavities. This has severely damaged the river’s ecosystem and disrupted the natural flow of water,” he said.
The illegal extraction has also contaminated drinking water supplies in low-lying areas, as water pipes connected to the Jhelum are now delivering polluted water. Sajad Ahmad Baramulla echoed these concerns, stating, “The sand mafia operates openly in broad day light and no one stops them. Our water bodies are being destroyed, and our lives are being put at risk.”
A Collusion of Silence: Authorities and the Sand Mafia
Despite claims of action by officials, the reality on the ground paints a grim picture of collusion and negligence. A top official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that mining has been banned since the 2014 floods but conceded that illegal operations persist. “We take action under the Water Regulatory Act, but curbing this menace requires a multi-departmental approach,” he said.
However, environmental activists like Ghulam Rasool argue that the authorities are complicit in the destruction. “Heavy machinery has been plundering the Jhelum for over 18 months. Every day, over 100 trucks carry stolen riverbed material in broad daylight, and no one stops them. The government is losing crores in revenue, and the environmental damage is incalculable,” he said.
Rasool estimates that the sand mafia loots riverbed material worth Rs. 40-50 lakh daily, with less than Rs. 1 lakh reaching the government treasury. “The environmental loss exceeds Rs. 1000 crores,” he added.
A Call to Action: The Need for Accountability
The rampant illegal mining has not only devastated the Jhelum but also exposed the failure of the J&K Fisheries Department, Flood and Irrigation Department, and Geology and Mining Department to enforce regulations. The auction of seized material to the very contractors involved in illegal extraction underscores the deep-rooted corruption and collusion within the system.
As the river’s ecosystem teeters on the brink of collapse, residents and activists are now turning to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for justice. The J&K Environment Impact Assessment Authority (JKEIAA), under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, must step in to enforce stringent measures, including the use of CCTVs, proper environmental impact assessments, and a complete ban on heavy machinery in riverbed mining.
The Jhelum is not just a river; it is the lifeblood of Kashmir. Its destruction at the hands of the sand mafia is a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability, transparency, and sustainable environmental practices. If immediate action is not taken, the Jhelum’s fate will serve as a grim testament to the cost of greed and negligence.
The question remains: Who will save the Jhelum from the clutches of the sand mafia? The answer lies in the hands of those who have the power to act—and the moral responsibility to do so. People demand high level investigation by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), J&K Environment Impact Assessment Authority (JKEIAA) which works under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.