Despite assurances, authorities fail to curb illegal soil extraction in Shopian
Shopian: Even as the district administration assured action against the norm violators, the illegal extraction of soil continued in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
The locals said that the authorities have failed to take any concrete step to stop the illegal extraction of soil from the last three months.
Despite being banned under J&K’s Land Revenue Act, Section 133-A, the soil extraction still goes unabated in the area with locals alleging authorities of acting as mute spectator and not taking no action against those involved in the act.
The locals said that illegal soil extractors have turned golden land into dust by removing its fertile soil to fill low level plots for plantation or construction.
Residents of Darbagh Aglar village of Shopian district and its adjacent areas said that despite repeated pleas to the concerned officials no action has been taken against this mafia.
They added that illegal extraction starts around 5 pm in the evening and continues till 12 in the night on daily basis.
“Extractors are using men and machinery to take away maximum soil and inflate the profits,” they said.
Moreover, locals said that soil extracted from the grazing land at different places is being used to fill the Abi-Awal (paddy) land in other areas in violation of various acts and none from the revenue officials bothers to look into the matter.
The locals also said that the huge rush of tractors in the areas caused potholes on the roads, resulting in dusty roads everywhere.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Shopian and Tehsildar Zainapora earlier assured that illegal extraction would be stopped forthwith.
However, the assurances given by the officials proved hoax on the ground, the local said.
DDC Shopian, Mohamad Aijaz told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that he will look into the matter.
“I was not aware about the happenings. I will look into the matter and the happenings will be stopped immediately,” he said.
KV Correspondent
