How soapstone mining is leading to land-subsidence in Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar

The Uttarakhand HC took suo motu cognizance of the article, and ordered commissioners to visit the sites and submit a report. Following the submission of the report on January 6, a Bench of Chief Justice G Narender and Manoj Kumar Tiwari observed that its findings were “not merely alarming, but also shocking”.

Soapstone is a metamorphic rock made of talc, a naturally occurring mineral, and is used in construction and design for countertops, sinks, hearths, and sculptures. Talc is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other industries. According to the Indian Bureau of Mines, the states of Rajasthan (57%) and Uttarakhand (25%) boast substantial reserves of soapstone in India.

Environmental concerns

Land subsidence is a major concern across Uttarakhand. The issue made national news in 2022 after cracks appeared in many roads and hundreds of houses in Joshimath — authorities declared the area as a landslide and subsidence-hit zone. In Bageshwar district, areas such as Kanda-Kanyal, and Kanda are particularly vulnerable.

According to the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), subsidence is the “sinking of the ground because of underground material movement”. This can happen due to a host of reasons, anthropogenic or otherwise. These include mining activities, removal of water/oil, soil erosion, soil compaction, and earthquakes.

The aforementioned report states that mining operations in the lower parts of the slopes has led to the loss of their structural integrity, and increased the vulnerability to mass movement. “In all regions where land subsidence is occurring, the mines are located on the lower slopes or at bottom of the terrain, directly impacting the stability of upper slope areas where villages are situated,” the report says. This is more so because the soil in the region is loamy and loose, and thus highly prone to erosion and destabilisation, particularly during the monsoon season.

The report points to a lack of green belts and retaining walls around the mine boundaries, coupled with a dearth of safety protocols such as buffer zones, slope monitoring, and protective structures — all of which continue to accelerate erosion.

The report also found mining and related activities (such as transportation) to be responsible for water scarcity and pollution, as well as air pollution.

Cultural concerns

The adverse consequences of unmitigated soapstone mining is evident in how the region’s traditional houses, the Kumaoni Bakhli, have fared in recent times.

Reflecting the cultural and environmental adaptation of local communities, these structures have demonstrated remarkable resilience over hundreds of years, even in the most seismically active zones, with no recorded evidence of widespread structural failure due to quakes. But not any more. Land subsidence and downward mass movement shifted and damaged the foundation of many a Kumaoni Bakhli, the report found.

According to a report by the regional office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change submitted to the National Green Tribunal last year, the Kanda tehsil is also culturally significant with a strong tradition of folk music, dance, and handicrafts.

“The Kalika Temple in Kanda, located in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, is a significant religious site believed to have been established in the 10th century it is known for its historical and cultural importance, particularly in the context of local beliefs regarding the protection against malevolent forces,” it said. Due to land subsidence, the temple floors now also sport cracks.

Authorities in the dock

The report submitted to the Uttarakhand HC pointed to the complicity of the administration in the matter.

“Neither the State of Uttarakhand nor the Union of India have anywhere explained the definition of the word semi-mechanised mining yet environmental clearances are being issued to the prospectors allowing them to undertake semi-mechanised mining. This usage of heavy earth-moving equipment in mining operations without defined policy limits can lead to various challenges and negative consequences,” the report said.

Besides this, the report also noted that the sub-district magistrate was allegedly trying to “suppress the voice of the villagers”, and interfered in their interaction with the commissioners. It also pointed out that revenue officials were in the know about the encroachment of Van Panchayat lands and the illegal felling of trees for mining, and that the district administration and the mining department was hand-in-glove with mine owners.

The Bench will next hear the matter on January 9.