SRINAGAR: The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has stirred controversy with its recent announcements regarding the auction of valuable resources in the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.
This move has raised concerns about the region’s sovereignty and the potential implications for international disputes.
In a significant move, the Modi administration declared its intention to auction Lithium mines located in the Reasi district of the Jammu division. Following this, the government has revealed plans to also auction Sapphire mines in Kishtwar. The announcement was made by the Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, during his address in Kishtwar.
Sinha stated that the auction of Sapphire mines would be conducted in a scientific manner over the next year. This decision, however, has fueled the ongoing debates over the governance and utilization of resources in the region.
Earlier, the Indian government disclosed the discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir, marking a significant development in the region’s resource landscape. Lithium, a non-ferrous metal, holds immense value as a key component in various industries, particularly electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Mines, shared in a New Delhi event that the auction of lithium reserves was slated to commence by December, following the completion of consultation processes with stakeholders. This timeline, however, has been met with mixed reactions from different quarters.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) made headlines in February when it unveiled the discovery of substantial lithium reserves in the Salal-Haimanain area of the Reasi district. The completion of demarcation work on the 3-square-kilometre lithium reserve site by Indian occupation authorities has further accentuated concerns over the region’s resources.
The controversial move has not escaped the attention of local leaders and organizations in the region. Various Hurriyat leaders and organizations in Srinagar have voiced their grievances, urging the United Nations to intervene and prevent what they perceive as India’s appropriation of resources from the internationally recognized disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Harsh Dev Singh, the President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, expressed his concerns during a press conference in Jammu. He criticized the Modi-led Indian government for what he deemed as desperate attempts to exploit the rich lithium resources in the Reasi district, emphasizing that these resources inherently belong to the territory and its people.
