Shamim Bhat
Kupwara, July 14 (KNS): As the lockdown to fightCOVID-19 continues, illegal miners in Langate Nallah in north Kashmir are making most of the opportunity and leaving no stone unturned in plundering the eco-fragile langate Nallah.
Sources in the area told KNS that dozens of JCB’s and other heavy machinery have been employed by mining mafia to make the most of the lockdown.
“They are openly and brazenly extracting sand and boulders at several places using JCBs and other machinery and the district administration has been tacitly allowing this to happen,” locals alleged.
They said that the illegal extraction was going on in Langate nallah , mawer Nallah and other places.

Dozens of PHE schemes have gone useless, leaving people in many villages longing for a drop of water. Meanwhile, Municipal Committee Langate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Mir alleged.

People are longing for a drop of water. Meanwhile, Municipal Committee Langate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Mir alleged that the canal was narrowed due to collusion between sand and millet mafias and the administration.

He further said that although he had brought the matter to the notice of the authorities several times, due to unknown reasons, no concrete action has been taken so far. BDC Chairman Langate

Speaking in this regard, Showkat Pandit said that due to low water level in the said drain, the irrigation pump sheds have become useless, leaving thousands of kanals of agricultural land useless due to non-availability of water.

He feared that if the illegal extraction of sand and millet was not stopped, it could have serious consequences in the future. Meanwhile, the locals called Lt.

He appealed to the Governor to intervene in this regard so that this serious issue could be resolved and the people could breathe a sigh of relief. (KNS)