Sopore/Rafiabad, July 13 (KNS): In a shocking case of environmental vandalism, a powerful sand mafia is brazenly stripping a lush forest area of in Waripora Chanam Wader, Watergam Forest Range of its invaluable green Deodar trees and illegally extracting sand and other material, turning once-verdant slopes into a barren wasteland.
Hundreds of majestic Deodar trees have already been felled, their trunks lying scattered along the roadside as mute witnesses to the ongoing ecological crime.
According to locals, the plunder is not limited to daytime operations heavy machinery, particularly tractors, operates round the clock, including through the night, depriving residents of sleep and peace.
A special correspondent of Kashmir News Service who visited the spot found several tractors and workers actively engaged in illegal mining and tree felling even during broad daylight. Locals identified a few influential local individuals, each owning 3 to 4 tractors, as the primary perpetrators behind this large-scale illegal operation, “We have repeatedly approached the Mining Department and Forest Department, but no action has been taken. It seems the officials have some personal understanding with the mafia.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThey have given them a free hand,” alleged angry locals.
The residents claim that the entire green cover of Deodar trees in the area has been systematically destroyed, converting the once-thickly forested zone into a deserted, barren landscape. The environmental damage is described as irreversible, threatening biodiversity, soil stability, and local water sources.
The noise pollution from continuous tractor movement, especially at night, has made life miserable for families in the vicinity. “We cannot sleep the whole night. Our children and elderly are suffering badly,” the locals said.
With concerned departments turning a blind eye despite multiple complaints, the affected people have now appealed directly to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and Jammu & Kashmir Police to intervene immediately, conduct a high-level probe, and take stringent action against the sand mafia and any officials shielding them.
This incident once again raises serious questions about the effectiveness of forest and mining regulations in parts of Kashmir and the alleged nexus between local operators and government functionaries (KNS).