Illegal extraction of sand and boulders going on in Anantnag, Pulwama, claim villagers
By: Muzamil Bhat CK
Srinagar
Many local villagers of Anantnag and Pulwama districts have alleged that there is illegal extraction of sand and boulders going on from the river beds and also from the streams during the night hours with concerned authorities not taking any action.
The villagers have further alleged that such extraction is going on during the night hours as hundreds of vehicles along the tractors extract these minerals from the streams and also from the river at various places while the Geology and Mining department responsible for the preservation of these minerals is silent on this issue.
Locals told a local news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the department has “miserably failed to check and stop illegal extraction of mineral particularly during night hours as hundreds of Tippers, Dumpers, Tractors and JCBs are involved in this illegal practice”.
The locals alleged that this illegal trade with crores is going on for some time now in many districts of south Kashmir, particularly Anantnag and Pulwama, however, the concerned department is watching as a mute spectator.
They said that the illegal extraction is going on at Nallahs of Larkipora and Sadoora in Anantnag during night hours with no employee of the department watching as mute spectators.
When contacted, in charge officer of Geology and Mining in Larkipora, he said they have submitted the report time and again to the District office Anantnag, however, no action had been initiated as yet.
The locals alleged that the illegal mineral extraction is witness during day time as well, particularly on Sunday’s and Friday’s in River Jhelum in Dogripora, Sangam, Bijbehara, Larkipora and Akura.
They alleged that the field and supervisory staff of the concerned department has nexus with the dealers and which is why they fail to take any action.
Some mineral supervisors claimed that they initiated registering of FIRs against the persons involved in illegal mineral Extraction, however, it yielded no results.
Meanwhile, environmental experts have expressed serious concern about the disastrous effects of this illegal trade by some vested interests and claimed that it will have serious consequences as it will disturb the natural ecological balance and Flora and Fauna.
Meanwhile, the locals appealed to the Lt. Governor and higher officials to look into the matter and stop this illegal trade to save the environment and natural ecology for future generations.
With KNS inputs
