Tractor drivers stage protest in Pulwama against ban on manual sand extraction
Pulwama: A protest sit-in was staged by tractor drivers in the Wahibugh area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday against the ban on extraction of sand and gravel from the Romshi Nallah using tractors.
Dozens of tractor operators assembled along the roadside, raising slogans and demanding immediate revocation of the restrictions, which they said have severely impacted their livelihoods.
The protesters alleged that the ban has left hundreds of families without any source of income.
“We have been dependent on this work for years. Suddenly stopping us from extracting sand and gravel has pushed us to the brink of starvation,” said one of the protesting drivers. “We are not involved in illegal mining. We only collect limited material using tractors to earn a daily wage.”
Another driver said that the authorities should differentiate between large-scale illegal mining operations and small-scale local workers. “Big machines and influential contractors are still operating at some places, but poor tractor drivers are being targeted. This is injustice,” he alleged.
The protesting drivers claimed that no alternative livelihood or rehabilitation plan has been offered to them. “If the government wants to impose a ban, they should first provide us with some other means to earn. We are ready to follow rules, but we cannot sit idle at home,” a protester added.
Locals from the area also extended their support, saying that the ban has not only affected drivers but also labourers associated with the trade. “Hundreds of people, including helpers and daily wagers, are suffering due to this decision,” said a local resident.
The protesters urged the district administration to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest, warning that they would intensify their agitation if their demands are not addressed.
Officials have maintained that restrictions on extraction activities are aimed at curbing illegal mining and protecting the environment.
