Bilal Bhat | Awami Reporter
Srinagar, August 19:
The brazen plunder of Srinagar’s fragile mountains continues unchecked at Saidapora and Khimber, where entire hill slopes have been carved to build hotels and commercial complexes. Locals allege that the mining mafia is thriving in full swing under the nose of District Mineral Officer (DMO) Srinagar, Muhammad Saleem Dar, who also holds additional charge of Ganderbal — ironically another known safe haven for illegal extraction.
Over the last one week, Awami Reporter documented the movement of tippers operating at night, ferrying material from government and community land. Disturbingly, the operations at Khimber are happening barely 50 meters from the local police station, suggesting either collusion or deliberate indifference from those in authority.
Repeated attempts by Awami Reporter to reach DMO Srinagar for clarification have failed. For two consecutive days, his phone went unanswered despite multiple calls and messages — a silence that locals and journalists alike say only strengthens suspicions of corruption or a deliberate denial of accountability.
“It is now a gospel truth. If the officer was clean, why avoid even basic communication?” asked one local resident wishing anonymity. Another said bluntly, “Mountains are being ripped apart, hotels are rising where pastures once stood, and our calls to DMO go unanswered. This silence speaks louder than words.”
Legal experts point out that such violations are not only illegal but outright contempt of court. Dr. Raja Muzaffar, a noted environmental activist, told Awami Reporter: “Ironically, despite clear-cut bans from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and even the Supreme Court, illegal mining in Srinagar goes on unabated. While DMO Pulwama Khursheed Ahmad has tightened the noose on the mafia, DMO Srinagar seems shockingly callous and indifferent. His silence emboldens violators.”
Political voices have also raised the alarm. Ashok Bhat, senior BJP leader, called the illegal mining “a mafia thriving on the behest of DMO Srinagar and it should be probed by ACB”. He said he has already written to the Union government seeking urgent intervention. “This is not just a local issue, it is loot of national resources,” he warned.
Even the Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, had issued a stern warning last week against illegal mining, vowing zero tolerance. Yet, on the ground, the Geology and Mining Department seems, as one activist put it, “deaf and dumb” to his directions.
When Awami Reporter confronted the Joint Director Geology and Mining, he attempted to defend his subordinate. “Strong actions will be taken against violators. Allegations against DMO Srinagar are baseless,” he said. However, when pressed why the DMO has failed to answer calls from locals, journalists, or even visit the ground despite the scale of violations, he responded vaguely: “He is in meetings. The confusion will be cleared.”
But for residents of Khimber and Saidapora, the “confusion” is crystal clear. The NGT has explicitly banned riverbed and mountain mining during monsoons, citing ecological fragility, yet truckloads of material are being extracted daily. Supreme Court rulings have stressed that no mining can be allowed without strict environmental clearances — a principle openly violated.
Locals fear that Srinagar is now following the path of Uttarakhand and Kishtwar, where reckless exploitation triggered disasters. “We are not against development, but this is destruction in the name of development. The DMO is supposed to protect our resources, not protect the mafia. There must be an ACB probe against him ,” said another local, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisals.
The allegations are serious, the violations are visible, and the silence of the officer in charge is damning. Until the administration takes visible and transparent action, Srinagar’s mountains will continue to fall one truckload at a time — while those responsible hide behind “meetings” and unanswered phone calls.
