Tractor drivers demand permissions for legal mining
Says struggling to pay loan instalments, feed our families
Shopian: A large number of tractor drivers are up in arms against the Geology and Mining Department for not allowing them to extract minerals from Ranbiara in south Kashmir’s Shopian district
The tractor drivers said that they are not in favour of illegal mineral extraction but it must be streamlined so that they can extract minerals on royalty basis.
The drivers from different areas said that they have bought tractors and other vehicles on loans and if they are not allowed to work then how can they arrange for the EMI’s to be paid to the banks and also even manage to feed their families.
“Our families and our livelihood is wholly and solely dependent on our vehicles but if we won’t work how can we feed our families,” they said, adding that, a situation has risen where even we had decided to sell our vehicles but no one is willing to purchase these vehicles as transportation of minerals has been literally made a crime.
They said that there should be a proper mechanism so that they can easily extract and carry minerals from one place to another and earn their livelihood.
There is no mechanism in place as neither extraction nor ferrying is being allowed due to which they are facing many issues, they alleged.
The drivers said that they are unable to carry minerals from one place to another and whenever they load minerals and try to ferry them from one place to another, they are being caught, challaned and fined and then it takes weeks to get their vehicles released from court.
They requested Chief Minister Omar and concerned MLAs along with administration to look into the matter on humanitarian ground so that the poor drivers won’t face such problems anymore.
