Sopore, Mar 27 (KNO): Illegal sand mining alongside River Jehlum in north Kashmir's Sopore is going on unabated even as the authorities has miserably failed to act over the matter with the locals allege field and supervisory staff of the concerned department nexus with the dealers.
Locals while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that sand extraction violations are rampant even as due to the illegal mining they are now facing the threat of their orchards while adding that the excessive mining has already damaged the embankments along the Jhelum, they alleged.
They said that the illegal mining is not confined to the Chakrode Khan, Ningli areas but the same is going on in various places while the administration has so far failed in taking any concrete action aiming at halting the violations.
The residents also said that the illegal extraction of sand is going unabated and in broad daylight with the tacit support of officials who failed to take any concrete action so far. They alleged hand-in-the glove of the department with the maafia.
"We fail to understand why authorities are shying to curb this illegal trade in the area. He said the illegal extraction is mostly being carried out during early hours but for a couple of months it is going unabated during the broad daylight", said Ali Muhammad, a local who owns orchards at Charode Khan.
They, however, appealed to the lieutenant governor led government to direct the district administration to rein the elements involved in the illegal extraction of sand and bring the involved to the task.
Meanwhile, official at Irrigation and Flood control department when contacted told KNO that they are time and again taking action against them. “We have lodged a number of FIR's against the involved, besides, equipment was seized,” the official said.
“We have been continuously informing the Police department for necessary action, however, yet to see any concrete,” the official said.
He, however, added that the geology and mining department plays an important role in curbing the menace. “The royalty procedure too has been stopped as of now,” the official said—(KNO)