A government-appointed panel has issued a stark warning regarding the unscientific mining practices in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district, highlighting the severe risks they pose to the fragile Himalayan region. The panel's report, submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on July 30, 2025, calls for urgent reforms and strict monitoring to mitigate the escalating dangers.
The report, titled "Geological Assessment and Recommendations For Sustainable Mining Practices in Bageshwar District," paints a concerning picture of widespread instability caused by current mining operations. According to the panel, most mines have drastically altered natural slopes by creating steep, vertical cuts without proper benches, rendering the terrain highly susceptible to landslides and rockfalls. This destabilization directly threatens villages, agricultural lands, and vital water sources in the region. The panel also noted instances of unauthorized limestone mining on forest and government land.
The panel's assessment emphasizes the need for a comprehensive overhaul of mining practices in Bageshwar. Key recommendations include creating a geo-referenced database of all lease boundaries to prevent encroachments and improve the tracking of risk-prone areas. The panel urged the state to reassess leases that overlap with villages, water sources, or agricultural land. The NGT has previously directed the district magistrate of Bageshwar to ensure that no mining activities occur in geo-tectonically sensitive areas without prior seismic studies conducted by a committee of experts.
The report also addresses the critical issue of waste management, emphasizing that debris should not be dumped into streams. Instead, systematic waste disposal and site reclamation are essential. Regular field inspections are necessary to ensure that mining operations comply with mining plans and environmental regulations. While the panel acknowledges that riverbed mining, when conducted within prescribed limits, does not threaten seismic stability, it stresses that in-situ mining in Himalayan districts like Bageshwar should only proceed with extreme caution.
The Uttarakhand High Court had previously ordered an immediate halt to mining operations in Bageshwar, citing illegal activities that caused cracks in houses and hills. The court's decision was based on a report detailing widespread violations of mining norms, including unauthorized mining, encroachment on land, drying up of water springs, and the unauthorized use of forest resources. The report also highlighted air, water, and noise pollution caused by unscientific mining methods, as well as the illegal felling of trees.
