KINS Correspondent
Srinagar, June 05 (KINS): The alleged illegal stone quarrying plants in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district are causing ecological degradation.
The illegal operation of stone crusher plants in the peripheries of Anantnag town and other rural areas of this district continue to wreak havoc on the ecology as most of these plants are being operated near the river banks and residential areas.
Locals told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that wide-scale rock excavation is polluting the living environment for those living in adjoining villages. “The rock excavation is resulting in loss of green pastures and pine trees and polluting drinking water,” they said.
The locals said the dust produced from these units has affected the vegetation near these plants while the concerned authorities are looking the other way.
“The authorities did take some cosmetic measures from time to time due to public outcry, which later dies down as the concerned departments did not follow up the process of registration of these units as per the guidelines laid down for the same. Also, due to the political patronage, operators of such many units are let go,” they said.
“Stone crusher plants in Kulamchinar Shankarpora, Sadura bridge, Lalan bridge, booth bridge on Bringi stream are all operating illegally from the river banks in the populated residential areas. These units have become a nuisance and have adversely affected the ecology in the areas from where these are operating. An owner of one such plant runs his unit in partnership with one influential person and every time our department tries to initiate action against such people, we are pressurized by the higher ups to not go ahead with any action against these violators,” said an official wishing anonymity.
The official said these units are running in brazen violation of laws and have affected the flora and fauna adjacent to these plants. “These operators openly take the heavy machinery and trucks into rivers to extract boulders, which have led to almost an extinction of fish in Bringi and Sandran rivers,” the official said.
GM Geology and Mining Department Anantnag Suhail Ahmad said they won’t allow extraction of minerals. “We have made 75 seizures including tippers and JCBs for last 20 days. Illegal extraction of minerals won’t be allowed,” Suhail told news agency KINS.
Assistant Director Fisheries Anantnag Mohammad Sidiq, who recently joined also assured they won’t allow any extraction of minerals from open Nallahs. (KINS)
