Environmental degradation is one of the biggest challenges we have. I think a question we are not asking ourselves is: ‘isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate & tyrannical use of nature..pope Francis
Location: (34° 2’29.38’ N, 74° 52’ 40.66’ E)
It is located between the River Jhelum on the West and the Zabarwan Mountains on the East and North. The area is spread over 25 acrs of land.Athwajan is very much a part of Srinagar city and a sizeable population lives in the area and around it. Besides a well reputed Public School, Government schools ,offices and a large number of police and para-military forces units exist near the quarry.
ECOLOGICAL CONCERNS:
Change in landscape:At the quarry sites both at Athwajan and Pantha Chowk the whole rock mass is highly jointed and fractured, the slopes are more than 85 degree or even at places near verticals. It has also been observed that alarming cutting height of 20 to 100 degree above ground level has made this quarry belt highly dangerous because of the slope and height crossing the permissible limits,”
NOISE POLLUTION:
The quarry operators start blasting early in the morning disturbing sleep of the people and creating noise pollution.
AIR POLLUTION:
Clouds of dust arise and spread in and around the area polluting all house- holds, offices and institutions. Thick layers of dust cover furniture, clothes, utensils, other household items, roofs and even the trees. The residents of the area just watch helplessly. Then starts another activity namely movement of men and machines. The noise of the machines and vehicles continues throughout the day till late hours.
HEALTH ISSUES:
The stone quarrying generate tonnes of dust particles which may also contain radioactive substances,and by the action of wind they are carried to long distance & are so minute that they can easily enter into alveoli part of respiratory track & create various respiratory issues & allergies.A recent study on the peoples of Athwajan people revealed a high rate of respiratory diseases as compared to other parts of city.
As per B.L.KAUL Ed,1995” Eco-degradation of Himalayas causes &remedies” it is well documented fact that quarry of all sort &mining are of great concern as far as environmental &health is concerned.
Mitigation measures :There is no doubt that all quarrying activities contributes towards state economy,besides this it provide huge employment especially the labour class,Now the question arise weather we go with this developmental activity at the cost of people and environment?the answer is simply NO….
MEASURE’S:
1.Restriction within city:it is to be understood that nowhere in the country and the world quarrying and mining activity is allowed within city limits.
2.New site allocation: public health can’t be risked for revenue and employment generation alone. The stone quarrying at Athwajan needs to be stopped immediately. A new stone quarrying location outside the city limits and away from any habitation should be found to meet the requirement of stones for construction purposes. In South Srinagar, two sites have been identified by the Revenue Department at Shaliguf with 9.55 hectares and Zewan Bala with 16.40 hectares from the state land for the rehabilitation of the affected after a ban was imposed on stone quarrying works at Athwajan and Pantha Chowk by the state government,.The Authorities directed the officials of Geology & Mining Department to ensure that the alternative identified sites allocated for mining conformed to the relevant rules and were suitable for mining,they directed the officials to expedite the process of relocation of quarries from these areas to the identified areas so that the affected don’t face further inconvenience in this regard.
3.Positive Development: ensure that those employed in stone quarrying don’t lose their jobs and there is no loss of revenue to the State.
4.Procurement of law:“The Jammu and Kashmir Minor Mineral Concession, Storage Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules, 2016” notified vide SRO-105 dated 31.3.2016 have come into existence and no person shall be granted any minor mineral concession in any area under these rules unless a mining plan approved under these rules is submitted and approved by the government,” the order copy reads, adding, “at the present scenario of extraction of stones in the area does not permit to prepare a suitable mining plan and the measures for safeguarding the fragile ecology and environment in the area.”On December 1, last year Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered immediate banning of mining activities at Athwajan and Pantha Chowk quarries, terming stone extraction at these sites as “ecologically dangerous and harmful for the local population”.
Despite ban on quarrying at Pantha Chowk and its adjoining areas, the activity has been restarted evoking resentment among the locals.The locals said people associated with quarrying blast mountain during night in Pantha Chowk and Athwajan to extract stones. “they could not sleep from past many years as there is threat that stones might roll down towards their houses from the mountain. This has endangered their lives. A serious disaster can happen in the vicinity area if the quarrying is not stopped immediately.
Shariqa Maryam is PG in Environmental Sciences.
