I am writing this from Anand, Gujarat, far from Kashmir, but my mind keeps returning to the landscapes I know.

The karewas of Pulwama, Budgam, and other districts are being cut apart.

These plateaus, formed over two million years ago, have shaped the valley’s soil, orchards, and history.

Now they are being stripped of clay, sand, and gravel. The damage is massive and mostly illegal.

In Zadoora, Newa, Tumchi Nowpora, and Parigam villages of Pulwama, and in Pallar, Gowherpora, Kultreh, Nagam, and Hyathpora in Budgam, the land has been carved into pits.

Hundreds of acres of agricultural and horticultural land have been affected. Orchards struggle as the water table drops.

Dust fills the air, covering the soil and the leaves of the trees. The noise of machinery has become constant for local residents.

Mining has become normal in the valley, often without legal clearance.

Some operations run under Disposal Permits issued by the Mining Department, but these permits violate the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation)........

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