Why did the Uttarakhand High Court form an expert committee for Bageshwar mining?

The court formed the committee due to concerns over unscientific mining practices, ecological damage, and the state's failure to ensure safe operations.

What are the main environmental concerns regarding mining in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district?

Key concerns include land subsidence, landslides, river pollution, and large-scale ecological degradation caused by unregulated mining activities.

When will the expert committee on mining in Bageshwar submit its reports?

The committee will submit interim reports every 15 days, starting from January 15, 2026, to monitor mining's environmental impact.

Home / Environment / Uttarakhand HC Forms Expert Panel on Rampant Mining

Uttarakhand HC Forms Expert Panel on Rampant Mining

7 Jan

•

Summary

High Court forms expert committee to monitor mining in Bageshwar.
Concerns raised over unscientific mining, ecological degradation, and land subsidence.
Committee to submit interim reports on environmental impact every 15 days.

Uttarakhand HC Forms Expert Panel on Rampant Mining

The Uttarakhand High Court has mandated the creation of a high-level expert committee to scrutinize mining operations in Bageshwar district. This decision follows widespread concerns about unscientific and unregulated mining practices leading to ecological degradation and land subsidence in the fragile Himalayan region. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the state's inability to prove that scientific and safe mining methods are being employed.

The committee, comprising specialists from leading scientific institutions, will assess whether mining can proceed without causing irreversible environmental damage. It is tasked with recommending appropriate mining methods and will submit interim reports every 15 days, starting January 15, 2026. This directive came after the court took suo motu cognisance in 2025 regarding reports of extensive unregulated mining.