Ganderbal: Sand mafia violates court orders in broad day light, extracting sand, boulders and minerals from Nallah Sindh here in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district caring a fig for the law.
Locals blamed Fisheries Department for the mess claiming that sand mafia extracts sand, gravel and boulders from the waterbody in connivance with some employees of the Fisheries Department. Besides Fisheries Department, they also raised finger on Geology and Mining Department that according to has miserably failed to curb the illegal mining.
Locals said that tippers, tractors can be seen ferrying sand and other material from one place to another.
They said trout fish has declined due to illegal mining and people are making extractions illegally from the Nallah due to which the boundary walls have caved in at many spots.
“The mafia is using vehicles and heavy machinery to dig out the sand and gravel and the concerned authorities is watching the vandalism helplessly,” said a local resident.
They said that in stream sand mining results in the destruction of aquatic and riparian habitat through large changes in the channel morphology.
Locals have sought immediate intervention of authorities in this regard. (KNT)
