Bandipora, May 14: Government ban on extraction of sand from Madhumati and river Jhelum in Kaloosa and Sumbal townships here has rendered thousands of people jobless, while closure of over twenty stone quarries in Safapora on government direction has cast hundreds of workers their jobs.
Thousands of workers in this district, locals say, would eke out their living through extraction of sand from the rivers and streams. “That was the only activity we were dependent on. The ban that has come into effect from May 1st has broken our back,” they said.
Said Fayaz Ahmed Dar: “Sand extraction was our only source of income. We have no land or any other occupation to earn. The ban has snatched from us our only source of earning.”
Labourers rejected claim of the authorities that sand extraction was affecting the hatching of the trout fish.
“The area of the river where we were working has been declared as the trout zone,” said Ghulam Hassan, a labourer. However he said the authorities were allowing the JCB owners to extract the sand while denying same to labourers.
The concerned labourers told Greater Kashmir that they were facing huge financial problems, and “our children cannot attend educational institutes, as we have nothing to pay for their fees.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of workers in Safapora and Sumbal here have been rendered workless since April 1st after government closed dozens of stones quarries near Mansbal lake.
Workers said quarries did not affect the quality of water or the beauty of the lake.
“The quarries closed down were 3-5 kilo meters away from that spot,” said an elderly worker Muhammad Akram.
The workers/labourers appealed Chief Minster Omar Abdullah to look into the issue “so that poor families don’t suffer further.”
When contacted Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Muhammad Sharief Saud said: “We are holding a meeting with all the officers concerned to find solution to the problem so that workers can start their work without causing any damage to government property.”
 “Within three days the issue will be sorted out” he assured.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 IST