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| Police, Revenue officials assisting mitti mafia | | Karewas being bulldozed in Budgam, Pulwama | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 14: Illegal excavation of soil from Karewa land is going on unabated as "Mitti Mafia ", Police and Revenue department officials are now working in a very close coordination across Kashmir valley especially in twin districts of Budgam and Pulwama.
Sources have told Early Times that lot of wetlands are also being filled up by the mafia who are controlled by top land brokers of Kashmir valley.
The mitti mafia in Budgam had come under pressure of District Administration Budgam after several news reports filed by Early Times , but they are back to business in connivance with police and revenue officials.
In at least one dozen villages of Budgam illegal solid excavation is taking place. The JCBs have been pressed into service and they are bulldozing Karewas at several locations in Budgam . Sources have told Early Times that land mafia is now filling a water body (wetland) near National Highway 44 at Pampore Galnader area and police / revenue department officials are providing all the logistical support to this mafia.
A delegation of people from Budgam , Kaiserullah Chadoora , Parigam , Pamore , Choon , Watrihail , Jawalapora , Shoolipora etc and its adjoining areas are up in the arms against authorities as they are not taking action against the Mitti Mafia active in Budgam and Pulwama from last several years.
The Karewas of Pulwama and Budgam district are under continuous threat of extinction as the soil excavation work on these is continuing since last more than a decade now. An estimated 30 to 40% of the Karewas in Budgam , Khansahib and Chadoora and Pampore / Pulwama areas alone have been raised to ground after continuous plunder by huge bull dozers , JCB's and other heavy duty earth excavators.
Soil excavation work on Budgam Karewa's began around 1995 after the work on Qazi Gund -Baramulla rail project began. Hundreds of trucks , tippers were pressed into work by the various construction firms who undertook various works for Railways which was executed by IRCON a mega construction firm. The soil was used for making elevated railway track and 90% of the soil which was used for such works was excavated from Karewas of Budgam , Pulwama and Baramulla districts.
These Karewas are famous for almond orchards. The saffron cultivation done on thousands of hectares of the Karewa land especially in Kaisermulla , Sarai Khampora , Kuzweira, Kultreh and a number of other villages has decreased a lot in these villages of Budgam . |
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