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| llegal mining goes unabated on fragile forest land in Lowemunda | | 'Culprits enjoying political patronage' | | Early Times Report
srinagar, Mar 20: The illegal stone quarring on the fragile forest land along the foothills of Peer Panchal in Lowemunda area of south Kashmir is posing a severe threat to the ecology of the area. The culprits are allegedly enjoying the political patronage.
Hundreds of people could be seen carrying out the stone quarrying on the fragile forest land at nearly a dozen places along the 3 km stretch on Srinagar-Jammu national highway near lowermunda. "The illegal extraction of stones on the fragile forest zone has completely ravaged the ecology of the area and has marred its natural beauty to the hilt.The authorities meant to protect the forests are acting as mute spectators," alleged the locals.
They said that they many a time approached the higher ups of the forest department with the complaint but they never turned up to act against the illegal stone miners."We many a time approached the top forest officials of the district with the written representation seeking the closure of all the stone mines on the forest land but they never paid any heed to our pleas. The damage caused to the ecology of the area due to the illegal stone mining seems to be no concern for the them," said a resident, Mohammad Arif. He said that most of the owners of the mines on the forest land in the area are politically influencial people due to which the authorities do not dare to touch them.
"A local activist of the ruling National conference owns at least 10 mines in the area. Due to high political connections the officials of the forest department are hesitant to touch him," said another resident wishing anonymity. Environmentalists maintain that if the mining on the forest land continues at the same pace it will prove hazardous for the fragile environs of the area. Expressing concern over the damage caused to the ecology of the area by the miners, an environmentalist, Qazi Riyaz, said , " The fragile ecology and environs of the area is under the severe threat from the illegal stone mining done on the forest land. If the authorities do not wake up from the slumber and stop the practice soon, the time is not far when the fragile forests of the area will turn into bare mountains." He said that the mining on the forest land is also damaging the medicinal plants of great significance. "Many shrubs and hurbs of significant medicinal value are found in the forests of the area. But ironically the authorities least bother about the damage caused to natural resources by certain people for their personal gains," Qazi said. Another environmentalist, Imtiyaz Ahmad, said that the illegal mining in the forest zone is also disturbing the natural habitat of the wild animals.
Forest officials also maintain that the political intrusion impedes action against the illegal stone miners. "We many a time came into action and even seized all the tools of the miners but every time on the interference of some top politicians we were left with no option but to allow them to continue the practice" said a forest official posted in the area. |
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