Bat Manufactures Association worried, industry under threat
By: Aabid Hameed
Pulwama: Kashmiri Willow on which Valley’s vital bat industry depends is on verge of extinction as nobody is sowing willow in Kashmir now.
The plots of Willows are shrinking with each passing day as not even a single plant is being sown.
Experts believe that if cutting of the Willow continues at same rate a time will come in next two three years, there will be no Willow in Kashmir.
They said that around 300 bat manufacturing units are directly dependent on Willows but hardly anyone is sowing it these days.
People prefer to sow poplar as it gets grows very fast while Willow takes decades to grow big.
Meanwhile, Bat Manufactures Association in Kashmir is also worried and is of the opinion that their industry is under threat as Willows are on verge of extinction.
Ghulam Qadir, a member of the association said that there is state land available at various spots besides wet land on which government can start afforestation programme of the Willows so that there will be no shortage in coming time.
He said that they have brought this issue in notice of authorities several times but so far nothing has been done.
He said that around 10,000 people are employed in 300 bat manufacturing units in Kashmir.
Joint secretary Industries and Commerce in Union Government Dr Rajendra Ratnoo who visited Bat Industrial Area at Sethar Anantnag recently, assured the association that he would take up issue with the concerned officials so that Willows will be sown and there will be no shortage of in future.
