Details

Written by: Current News Service

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 09 September 2016

SRINAGAR:  Taking full advantage of current unrest in Kashmir the illegal extraction of sand and boulders from Nallah Sukhnag in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district is going on unabated. Such illegal practice according to locals is going on at Paripora and Makhama areas of the district where trucks are being loaded with sand and boulders and unloaded at different destinations.

Pertinently, government has imposed a blanket ban on the extractions of boulders and sand in streams owing to the threat to the agricultural land. “The mafia through these acts has created such a depth of the Nallah Sukhnag that we are unable to supply water from the Nallah to our fields. A few days back Deputy Commissioner Budgam had issued orders directing official to check this illegal practice, however, no action was initiated against the mafia,” a group of people from Budgam told news agency CNS.

The locals added that in absence of policing and on spot visit by officials the mafia is taking full advantage of the current unrest. “Nallah Sukhnag is worst hit by extraction. Heavy vehicles, including tippers, tractors and JCBs are mainly used by mafia for extraction of sand and boulders in broad day light. We are surprised why the district administration is not looking into the issue,” they said.

Though Deputy Commissioner Budgam was not available for the comments, however another top official said that they will send a team on spot to ascertain the facts and if such thing has happened or has been happening the culprits will be booked under law.