Illegal extraction of sand, stones goes unabated in Kupwara
Kupwara: Even as the administration has imposed ban on extraction of stones, boulders and sand from streams in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the illegal practice is going unabated at various spots in the district while the authorities are acting as mute spectator.
Residents of Kupwara, Lolab, Kehmil and Mawar said that the practice was affecting agricultural activities as the water level in these streams was decreasing, leading to shortage of irrigation and drinking water.
The residents alleged that the practice is deteriorating the ecology of the area.
“The illegal practice that is continuing from past several years has led to the decrease in water level in dozens of springs and streams, flowing through this area,” they said.
“Besides, this indiscriminate extraction is disintegrating rocks in the nallahs, making the low-lying residential areas more floods prone,” they said, adding that “no action is taken against anyone, which indicates that the district administration are hand-in-glove with them.”
They said that the heavy vehicles including tippers, tractors and JCB machines are being used by the contractors for extraction of sand and boulders from the streams.
KV Correspondent
