Экологический кризис в Кашмире: добыча песка усугубляет наводнения и угрожает стабильности рек

Long before roads, bridges, and towns came into existence, the rivers of Kashmir carved their own paths through mountains and valleys. Today, those same rivers are expected to support an expanding construction economy by supplying sand, gravel, and boulders. The question is no longer whether rivers should contribute to development, but how much they can give before they begin to lose their ecological balance. Sadaket Ali Malik Long before roads, bridges and towns came into existence, the rivers of Kashmir carved their own paths through mountains and valleys. They shaped the landscape, nurtured civilizations and sustained life with remarkable consistency. Today, those same rivers are expected to perform another role—to support an expanding construction economy by supplying sand, gravel and boulders. The question is no longer whether rivers should contribute to development, but how much they can give before they begin to lose their ecological balance. The recent flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir have renewed public concern over the condition of Himalayan rivers. Torrential rains and cloudbursts remain the principal causes of such disasters, yet the severity of their impact often depends upon the health of the river itself. A stable river can absorb and distribute enormous volumes of water. A disturbed river behaves differently. Hydrologists often describe rivers as self-regulating systems. Every season they transport sediment from mountains to plains, naturally rebuilding sections of the riverbed while eroding others. This continuous process maintains the river’s equilibrium. Excessive extraction of riverbed material interrupts that balance. Riverbed mining occupies an unusual position in environmental policy. It is both necessary and potentially destructive. Modern infrastructure depends upon construction aggregates, but every tonne removed from a river alters its physical structure to some degree. The challenge is therefore not to eliminate mining but to ensure that extraction remains within scientifically sustainable limits. The debate became particularly significant in Kashmir after concerns were raised over mining activities in the Sukhnag River of Budgam district. The matter reached the National Green Tribunal through Original Application No. 1211 of 2024, filed by environmental activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat. Rather than relying solely on allegations or counterclaims, the Tribunal sought scientific evidence. Joint inspection teams, including officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), the Department of Geology and Mining and other government agencies, conducted field investigations and submitted detailed reports. Those reports estimated that between 10.62 lakh and 15.3 lakh metric tonnes of riverbed material had been extracted from parts of the Sukhnag River between 2020 and December 2024. Inspecting officials also documented excavation extending to 5.22 metres below the riverbed at certain locations. The committees recommended ecological restoration, replenishment studies and strengthened environmental monitoring before future mining decisions. These findings are important not because they offer a simple explanation for flooding but because they highlight the relationship between environmental governance and disaster resilience. Scientific literature consistently identifies climate change as the principal driver of increasing flash floods in the Himalayas. Rising temperatures have altered rainfall patterns, producing more frequent cloudbursts and short-duration, high-intensity storms. Yet scientists also recognize that degraded ecosystems often magnify the damage caused by these events. When natural boulder formations are disturbed, riverbanks become more susceptible to erosion. Excessive excavation may alter groundwater recharge, destabilize channels and affect aquatic habitats. Wetlands that once stored excess water continue to shrink under development pressures. Forest loss in upper catchments increases surface runoff. Individually these changes may appear manageable; collectively they reduce the resilience of entire watersheds. The Sukhnag proceedings therefore represent something larger than a dispute over mining. They demonstrate how environmental institutions can function when public concerns, scientific expertise and judicial oversight intersect. The involvement of the JKPCC, technical experts and the National Green Tribunal reflects an evolving framework in which environmental decisions are increasingly expected to rest on evidence rather than assumption. Equally significant is the role of citizens. Environmental governance is rarely strengthened by government action alone. Public participation, independent research, responsible journalism and citizen petitions remain essential components of democratic environmental accountability. The Sukhnag case illustrates how one petition can initiate wider institutional examination of ecological issues. For policymakers, the lesson is straightforward. Flood management cannot begin with disaster relief. It must begin with watershed conservation, scientifically regulated mining, protection of wetlands, restoration of degraded river stretches and strict enforcement of environmental safeguards. Investments in ecological restoration are often far less expensive than rebuilding damaged infrastructure after every flood. Kashmir’s rivers have served generations without asking for recognition. They have irrigated fields, powered mills, supported fisheries and sustained countless communities. Their value cannot be measured solely in truckloads of sand or tonnes of gravel. Their greatest contribution lies in the ecological services they provide every single day. The future of the Valley will depend not only on how its cities expand but also on how wisely its rivers are managed. Development and conservation need not be competing priorities. In a fragile Himalayan landscape, they are two sides of the same responsibility. The real test of environmental governance is not whether a river can be mined. It is whether, after development has taken place, the river is still capable of flowing as a healthy river. sadaketmalik.blogspot.com