Kulgam,18-Sep; The illegal sand extraction from river bodies continues unabated in this southern district of Kashmir.Shandran Nallah, a tributary to the river Jhelum flowing through two south Kashmir districts – Anantnag and Kulgam, is being looted by the local sand mafia for many months now. Locals say that all entry and exit points leading to the river were closed by the administration a few years ago.However, these looters have maintained the wy towards the nallah that provides a safe passage to the sand mafia. Due to the intensive extraction of sand and stones, local agricultural land is eroding rapidly damaging the flora and fauna. The mafia uses heavy machinery to extract sand and illegal mining goes on.Experts cautioned the illegal practice has the potential to damage river embankments. This can in turn make several low-lying areas vulnerable to floods.”Every day scores of load carriers transport the sand illegally extracted from the nallah to the markets.The authorities are not bothered to put an end to this practice which is being carried out in night hours,” said Ghulam Hassan, a local resident.”This illegal trade has now grown into a mafia.”Sources told , last night Muhammad Yaqoob Parray objected to those who illegally carried extraction, which later turned into the bloody scuffle. The attack on the citizen has raised concerns among locals, who have called on the police to intervene immediately, while appealing to the administrations to stop the illegal activity immediately.(CNS)
