Effects of Nature’s Fury in Himachal: Sukhu govt orders closure of all mining operations
Effects of Nature’s Fury in Himachal: Sukhu govt orders closure of all mining operations
Shimla
In the aftermath of flash floods after nature’s fury, the Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday ordered the immediate closure of all mining operations (stopping stone crushers operations) in Beas river.
Making the announcement, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the government has ordered immediate closure of all stone crushers in Beas rivers basin (perennial and non-perennial rivulets) till further orders.
“The decision has been taken after the alarming transformation of the ecosystem during the current monsoons.
The river has wreaked havoc downstream in its basin and tributaries in Kullu, Mandi Kangra and Hamirpur districts besides Chakki rivulet in district Kangra.
The decision has also been taken to ensure the safety of human settlements and infrastructure, to preserve the fragile ecology and environment of the state.
However, the lease of legal mining has not been canceled,” he added.
The CM said the existing captive and temporary stone crushers shall not come under the purview of this order
Directions had been given to the Environment, Science and Technology & Climate Change department to convene a high-level expert consultation meeting.
The meeting will see the participation of experts from IITs, NITs, R&D Institutions, and Universities, to identify the factors that led to such a disastrous position.
The department will also conduct a comprehensive scientific study by constituting a Multi-Sectoral Expert Committee to evaluate the cumulative impact of unscientific and illegal mining activities.
It will also assess to redefine distance limits as based on the findings, thereby allowing more effective regulation and management of such operations to preserve the environment in the River system and to avoid any such anthropogenic-induced disasters in the state.
