Illegal mining threatens agri land at Lorrow Jagir, locals demand action

Pulwama, Feb 27: Farmers from Syedabad Pastuna village in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district report surge in illegal mining operations in Chandri Nallah and its associated branches near Lorrow Jagir.
The farmers said that illegal mining from Chandri Nallah has led to extensive damage to their agricultural land, trees, and an important irrigation canal loading water from the rivulet near Lorrow Jagir.
Tahseen Ahmad, a local resident, said many tractors of minor minerals are being mined from the Chandri Nallah and the water canal locally known as Bon Khul.
“ The canal has been severely vandalised and it gives the look of a ravine,” he said, adding that the illegal miners even didn’t spare protection bund around their agriculture land.
“The boulders from the protection bund were lifted and loaded into the tractors for sale,” he said, adding their agriculture land has been turned vulnerable to floods.
The locals also report uprooting of many willow trees due to the illegal mining operations.
The locals said that they moved from the pillar to the post to curb the illegal mining operations but to no avail.
The residents added that they have repeatedly highlighted this issue and submitted applications to the District Mineral Officer (DMO), the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Flood Control Department, and the Irrigation Department.
“Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” locals from Syedabad said.
The residents demanded strict action against the illegal miners for blocking the approach path to Chandri Nallah at Lorrow Tar.
They also urged authorities for constructing a protection bund to safeguard the vulnerable agricultural land at the site.
ADC Tral, Sajad Yehaya Naqash, said that they have taken stringent action against illegal mining operations and succeeded in checking them in the area to a large extent.
He also assured to verify complaints of illegal mining at Lorrow Jagir and take further action accordingly.