PM Asked to Order Independent Probe Into Alleged Violations at Asan Ramsar Site
Dehradun, June 2:
SDC Foundation president Anoop Nautiyal has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order an independent high-level inquiry into alleged environmental and wildlife law violations linked to mining activities in and around the 444 hectares Asan Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand's first Ramsar Site.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Nautiyal alleged that despite repeated concerns raised by citizens, environmental groups and courts, mining operations continue to threaten the fragile ecosystem of the internationally recognised wetland.
He sought a comprehensive investigation into mining activities within the Eco-Sensitive Zone of the reserve and adjoining stretches of the Yamuna river.
Nautiyal pointed out that the Asan Conservation Reserve, designated a Ramsar Site in 2020, is a critical habitat for nearly 350 species of migratory and resident birds.
He warned that unchecked mining, movement of heavy machinery and transportation of minerals were causing ecological degradation and disturbing wildlife habitats.
Citing Supreme Court observations and scrutiny by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), he questioned whether mining projects in the area had obtained all mandatory environmental and wildlife clearances.
He also called for verification of mining leases, stockyards and transportation permits operating around the protected wetland.
The SDC Foundation president urged the Prime Minister, who chairs the National Board for Wildlife, to ensure strict enforcement of environmental safeguards, commission a cumulative ecological impact assessment and fix accountability for any lapses in regulatory oversight.
"Once such a unique wetland ecosystem is damaged, restoration becomes extremely difficult," Nautiyal said, stressing the need for urgent intervention to protect one of Uttarakhand's most important biodiversity hotspots.
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