Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment has called for tougher laws and stricter enforcement to curb illegal mining, warning that unchecked environmental degradation poses a serious threat to the Union Territory’s ecological balance.
Chairing a meeting of the Committee on Thursday, Chairman M.Y. Tarigami expressed deep concern over the deteriorating environmental scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that protecting nature requires collective action from the government as well as the public.
“If pollution disturbs the very breath of human beings, then what is left to protect? Safeguarding the environment is not merely the responsibility of governments but a collective duty of every citizen,” Tarigami said while urging environmental experts, NGOs, civil society organizations, educational institutions and the youth to join hands in preserving the region’s natural resources.
In a significant move, the Committee directed the Mining Department to review the existing legal framework governing illegal mining and propose amendments to strengthen enforcement. Tarigami asked Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Ashwani Kumar, IAS, to examine the present laws and recommend measures that would make them more effective in addressing the growing menace of illegal extraction of minerals.
The Committee also took serious note of the number of FIRs and seizures reported in illegal mining cases across Jammu and Kashmir. It directed the Mining Department to submit detailed records of the first and second penalties imposed on offenders before the seizure of vehicles, machinery or minerals, enabling the panel to assess whether the current enforcement mechanism is acting as an effective deterrent.
The Committee indicated that the review would help identify gaps in implementation and pave the way for policy reforms aimed at strengthening environmental governance and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources.
During the meeting, Katra MLA Baldev Raj Sharma requested the Committee to undertake an on-site inspection of environmental issues in his constituency. Acknowledging the request, Tarigami assured members that Katra would be considered for inclusion in the Committee’s forthcoming inspection programme.
Reaffirming its commitment to environmental conservation, the Committee observed that safeguarding Jammu and Kashmir’s fragile ecosystem requires coordinated efforts by government departments, experts, civil society and the public to ensure a cleaner, healthier and sustainable future for generations to come.
This version is written in a newspaper front-page style, with a strong lead highlighting the Committee’s push for tougher action against illegal mining and environmental protection.
