The residents of Patal Bagh area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have demanded shifting of dumping site from saffron land so as to save the heritage crop of Kashmir.
The residents of the area told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that authorities have been dumping garbage in the middle of the saffron land at Patal Bagh and that is having a negative impact on the saffron industry.
Irshad Ahmad, a known progressive farmer, said that authorities have been dumping garbage in state land in the middle of the saffron land that is attracting dogs and wild animals like porcupines, who are damaging saffron corns.
He said that the government should handover the state land to the floriculture department so that the garden will be developed there where tourists visiting saffron fields can rest.
He said that thousands of tourists have been visiting these fields but when there will be garbage, how will they visit there.
On one hand the government has been claiming that they are taking steps to promote agro tourism but on the other hand dumping sites in saffron land is clearly against such claims, he said.
Dilshada Banoo, a local resident said that women folk are unable to visit their saffron fields due to the fear of dogs.
She said that if people won’t visit and take care of land, saffron production will decrease day by day and very soon may lose this heritage crop.
She said that the government has taken various steps for the promotion and development of the saffron sector but dumping of garbage there is having a negative impact on this vital industry.
Locals said that dozens of youth have been earning their livelihood by selling saffron and other products to tourists visiting these fields but if the authorities continue to dump garbage there no body will visit there and people earning their livelihood will come on roads.
They said that they have brought this issue in notice of the concerned authorities and are hopeful that positive steps in this regard will be taken up.
They requested concerned authorities especially Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama and Director Agriculture to look into the matter immediately and save this vital industry on which hundreds of families are dependent for their livelihood—(KNO)