Srinagar : Sand extractors across Kashmir Valley Wednesday accused government of snatching their livelihood by handing over the sand extraction contract to an outside company.
They said the concerned department has not given any allotment to this non-local company yet and still it’s employees are forcing local drivers to pay royalty to them.
They said that Geology and Mining Department invited tenders at a time when there was communication clampdown in Kashmir last year. “Inviting tenders in absence of internet in Kashmir deprived us from participating in the bid and now we are suffering,” they said.
They alleged that the high-handed attitude of some officials has hit hard those people who are entitled to extract sand. They also expressed their concern over the problems faced by the thousands of people who relied on the sand extraction industry to earn a livelihood.
“We used to extract sand without any hindrance but now we are being forced to pay royalty to Punjab based company. The fact is that no allotment has yet being given to this company and still the company men are looting us.”
Pertinently, a tussle is going on between Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Geology and Mining Department after the former came to known that a non-local company equipped with latest machinery has been permitted to extract sand from the River Jehlum in Kashmir Valley. I&FC believes, the use of machinery for extraction purpose may pose a serious threat to the embankments of the river Jehlum.
“What was the need to ignore local sand extractors and allow the work to a non-Kashmiri company? This is injustice towards us,” they said and sought intervention of higher authorities. (KNT)
