Illegal mineral extraction goes unabated in Pulwama
Pulwama: The residents of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district alleged that the illegal mineral extraction goes unabated in Nallah Romshi in different villages of the district while the authorities are acting as mute spectator.
Inhabitants of the Karimabad, Gudoora and its adjacent areas accused the authorities of inaction against the ‘vested interested elements’ who according to them resort to illegal extraction of bajri and boulders from on Nallah Romshi.
Locals told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that some people are extracting bajri, boulders illegally from nallah thereby resulted in the receding of water level besides weakening the embankments.
They said that illegal mining is posing threat to their horticulture and agriculture land as the water level of Nallah is going down with each passing day.
“The receding water level will mean that no water will enter into their agricultural land whenever they will need it for irrigation purposes,” Abdul Hammed, a local resident said.
“The illegal extraction from the nallah is posing a threat to the fish production as well,” he added.
“The machines are openly extracting the minerals from the nallah while the authorities don’t even bother to reach the spot to take action against them Though the illegal extraction process is carried out every day in morning no one bothers to put a halt on the process,” locals alleged.
“Illegal extraction is going on in night and morning time and the noise of tippers, tractors and other machines used for extraction is not letting us to even sleep peacefully,” they said
The locals appealed the higher-ups of the concerned department to look into the matter and deal with the offenders strictly.
Meanwhile, an official said that extraction is carried out during night and action has been already initiated against few extractors.
He said that other extractors are being identified and action will be initiated against them as well.
Jahangeer Ganaie
