Srinagar, July 07: (KNS)   The Jammu and Kashmir  National Conference Leader Ahsan Pardesi on Wednesday expressed gratitude to  administration for lifting the ban on stone quarrying in Athwan , pantha chowk and other adjoining areas. 

While expressing happiness over the measure of lifting the ban on stone quarrying, Ahsan pardesi said the step will bring respite to thousands of families, especially labourers,who were associated with the vocation. He said the ban had pushed the entire lot to starvation and on the brink of bankruptcy. "The labourers associated with the trade had drowned in loans.
Most of them had started to sell their household items to meet both ends of life. I am hopeful that the measure will help the poor lot to pay off their loans and tide over the economic stress, faced by them since the ban came into forever. I extend my best wishes to the people associated with the trade directly or indirectly, "he said. 
Ahsan also advocated for cancelling quarrying contracts of non UT citizens and hand over these contracts to locals so that work avenues are generated for locals which can generate more employment.(KNS)