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A report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the district mineral officer of Baramulla has stated that gypsum mining in the area does not pose any threat to the water quality or the health of the people. The report has also said that the mining companies are following the environmental norms and regulations as per their mining plans and permits.
A copy of the report with Ground Report, The District Mineral Officer's report submitted to NGT on September 11, 2023, refutes claims of gypsum contaminating water and causing tuberculosis, noting that mining companies are actively managing air pollution and dust by using water sprays. Water exhibits limited solubility in gypsum, which lowers the likelihood of minerals getting washed away during the rainy season, and mining operations do not involve water usage.
How Gypsum Mining Started
The J&K Department of Geology & Mining found out that there were rocks with gypsum in them after looking for them for more than 40 years. People use gypsum, a soft mineral, for making plaster and fertilizers. After they found out that there was about 100 million tonnes of gypsum in the area from Ijra village to Chiriyan village, the J&K Government gave permission to fifteen mining companies to dig out the gypsum.
The report states that the mining companies had to complete all the rules and get permission from different departments like Wildlife and Forest. They also had to make plans for how they would mine the gypsum without harming the environment.
The Indian Bureau of Mines checked and approved these plans. Before 2015, the central government considered gypsum a major mineral and was in charge of monitoring it. But after 2015, gypsum became a minor mineral and the state government took over the monitoring. Since 2016, the gypsum mining companies have to follow “The Jammu & Kashmir Minor Mineral Concession, Storage, Transportation of minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules, 2016”.
In 2016, the central government introduced a new system for obtaining mining permits for minor minerals like gypsum. Under this system, each district formed teams of experts and authorities responsible for evaluating and approving mining projects.
The report, however, refutes these allegations and asserts that mining companies are conducting gypsum mining in an environmentally responsible manner.
Gypsum mining not linked to TB
According to the report, there is no evidence to link gypsum mining with TB or any other disease. TB is caused by bacteria that spread through coughing or sneezing. Gypsum dust does not contain any bacteria or harmful substances that can cause TB or any other respiratory illness.
The report states that Gypsum does not dissolve easily in water, so there is very little chance of washing away the minerals during the rainy season. Furthermore, gypsum mining does not use water, so there is no possibility of wasting or contaminating water.
Gypsum mining doesn't harm wildlife
The report further states, Gypsum mining does not affect the wildlife or their habitat. The report has cited a study conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in 2019, which found that gypsum mining had no significant impact on the biodiversity or ecology of the area.
The study also found that there was no evidence of any wildlife mortality due to gypsum mining. The report has also mentioned that the mining area falls outside the buffer zone of any protected area or wildlife corridor.
The report has requested the NGT to dismiss the petition and allow the mining companies to continue their operations without any hindrance.
The matter is expected to be heard by the NGT on September 25, and it will pass its order accordingly.
Mohammad Shafi Mir, a resident of Chiriyan village, filed the petition and approached the NGT in July this year. He had alleged that gypsum mining was causing environmental degradation and health hazards in his village and nearby areas. He had also sought compensation for the damages caused by the mining activities.
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