The Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Mr. Surinder Chowdhary, who also holds the portfolio of the Mining Department, informed the Legislative Assembly on Saturday that a penalty of Rs 80 lakh had been imposed on the private construction company M/S NKC Projects Pvt Ltd for unauthorized riverbed mining in Budgam district.

This issue came into focus when the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Khansahib, Budgam, Mr. Saifudin Bhat, sought the attention of the House and asked the Deputy CM to respond. While highlighting the illegal riverbed mining taking place in the Shali Ganga stream in Basantwodder village of the Khansahib Assembly segment, the MLA stated that heavy machinery had been brought into the stream around ten days ago by the construction company (NKC) without any clearance from the Mining Department, Revenue Department, or Forest authorities. He informed the House that villagers from Basantwodder, Lanilabb, Draggar, and adjoining areas were protesting, yet no action had been taken against the company.

In response to Mr. Saifudin Bhat’s speech, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that the District Mineral Officer (DMO) Budgam had taken strict action against M/S NKC Projects Private Limited for unauthorized mining of boulders, gravel, and sand at the Shali Ganga stream around Lanilab-Basant Wooder in the Khansahib area of Budgam. He further added that action was taken after a video went viral on social media on March 2, 2025, which was later confirmed to be true by field officials when DMO Budgam deputed a team to the site to verify the claims.

“Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the company had engaged men and machinery for the unauthorized extraction of approximately 300 metric tons of Nallah Mukh without obtaining the necessary permits,” the Mining Minister/Deputy CM informed the House.

Misleading........

© Kashmir Observer