NGT Panel Conducts On-Site Assessment of Sukhnag River Over Illegal Mining Damage | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: An expert committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday carried out an on-site inspection of the Sukhnag stream in the Sail area of Beerwah in Budgam district to assess damage caused by alleged illegal riverbed mining.

The panel, comprising senior scientist Sandeepan Mukherjee from the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Khurshid Alam from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, examined the riverbed, embankments, and adjoining grazing lands reportedly affected over the past three to four years.

The inspection follows a petition filed by environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat, seeking intervention into alleged mining activities by NKC Projects Pvt Ltd. Acting on earlier findings, the tribunal had imposed a ban on mining in the area in January 2025 after a prior visit by a central team.

Officials said the expert committee sought a fresh ground assessment after reviewing a report submitted by a district-level panel through the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee. The latest inspection was conducted in the presence of officials from the revenue, forest, flood control and fisheries departments, along with local residents and activists.

The committee is expected to submit its findings to the tribunal by March 23. The matter is scheduled for hearing on March 27, when the tribunal is likely to take a final view on the case.