KINS Correspondent
Anantnag June 12 (KINS): Despite the J&K government’s ban, the illegal extraction of stones, boulders and sand from rivers and streams goes unabated in Lalan Ganoor and Gundijafar villages of Anantnag district amid COVID-19 lockdown.
Sources told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that heavy extraction of sand and boulders is being done in Lalan Gundijafar Sadoora of district Anantnag.
While the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag vide order No. 10750-69/DMA Dated 28-01 had ordered a complete halt on illegal extraction of stones, boulders and sand from the streams, but there is no implementation of directives on the ground.
“Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the Fishries Department despite fining the illegal extractors have failed to prevent this menace. The illegal extraction of sand and boulders is causing damage to our agricultural land as the water level in the stream is decreasing. Some years back, there were dozens of springs and streams flowing through this area. But today the water level is decreasing even in Nalla Bringi due to the illegal extraction of sand and boulders. We are forced to fetch water from far off places,” a delegation from Gundijaffer Lalan Manghal area told KINS.Ghulam Mohiuddin Hajam, a resident of
Kamad told KINS that the business of extraction of boulders and sand in Nallahs has badly affected the nearby agricultural fields.
DM Geology and Mining of Anantnag district’s phone was switched off.
SDM Dooru said, “We have already issued a warrant twice to Illegal sand extractor to stop it. We have again issued a warrant and also told Anantnag Police in this regard.” (KINS)
