Doon man writes to PM, seeks probe into mining near state’s only Ramsar site

Dehradun: A Dehradun resident has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an inquiry into mining activities within and around Asan Conservation Reserve (ACR) and adjoining stretches of the Yamuna river, alleging “continued ecological damage” to Uttarakhand’s only Ramsar site despite repeated complaints by locals.In the 35-page letter, accessed by TOI, Anoop Nautiyal, the founder of Doon-based Social Development for Communities (SDC) foundation, alleged that mining operations in and around the reserve, located around 40 km from Dehradun city, have led to “riverbed degradation, unchecked movement of heavy machinery and mineral-laden vehicles, disturbance to bird habitats, increased noise pollution and growing pressure on the wetland ecosystem.”“These changes are now visibly altering the ecological character of the wetland itself. leading to the severe ecological stress, habitat fragmentation and degradation which threatens a nationally and internationally recognised ecological asset,” Nautiyal wrote.He further alleged that despite repeated complaints and statutory safeguards, mining activities continue in and around the area. This points to a “disturbing pattern of regulatory failure, weak enforcement and possible administrative lapses”, he mentioned in the letter.The area under question includes forests and river stretches in Chakrata and Kalsi. Nautiyal has urged the PM to constitute an independent high-level committee to examine all mining operations within and around the reserve and adjoining Yamuna stretches, suggesting that the committee should report directly to the prime minister’s office.District mining officer Aishwarya Shah rejected allegations of violations. “The Eco-Sensitive Zone provision applies only to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, whereas Asan is a conservation reserve. Supreme Court prohibited mining within a 1-km radius of the reserve, but did not ban stockyards or stone crushers within 10 km,” she said. Shah added that three mining leases within a 10-km radius of the reserve were granted permission by the National Board for Wildlife in 2020-21. “Four lots have also been allotted for river dredging in the Yamuna under the Uttarakhand River Dredging Policy,” she said.Divisional forest officer, Chakrata, Vaibhav Singh said, “I have informed the DFO of the Kalsi Soil Conservation Division and the district administration to form a committee to look into the matter.”Asan was designated a Ramsar site in 2020 and remains Uttarakhand’s only wetland with the international tag. The wetland supports around 350 species of migratory and resident birds, including species that arrive through the Central Asian Flyway, and is considered one of the state’s most important winter habitats for migratory birds.