Danishwar Hameed
Despite the high court ban on illegal mining, residents of the Chowgam area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday complained that illegal extraction in the area is going on unabated.
They said that they have informed the concerned departments several times but nothing has been done so far to stop the menace in the area, locals alleged.
Despite assurances from authorities that it would be stopped, they failed to stop illegal mining and allow violators to use heavy machines. The residents appealed to concerned authorities several times to conduct the on-spot inspection to know the scale of mining and impacts on the adjacent areas but that never happened, said the resident of Chowgam village.
He added that due to illegal mining, the area has become vulnerable to floods. “For years these mining mafias are jeopardizing the lives of the residents and its adjacent areas,” he said.
They have appealed to the Lt. Governor-led administration to intervene in the matter and to stop the illegal mining in the area.