Ajas (Bandipora) Apr 21: Hundreds of villagers from Ajas Gujjarpati in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district staged a protest on Thursday against fencing of pasture land by the department of wildlife.
 The protesters alleged that wildlife department has started fencing the pasture land which is catering the need of thousands of animals from Ajas and its adjoining hamlets.
 They complained that the department started acquiring the pasture land without any prior notice and this would affect the about 20000 inhabitants in the area.
 The residents of the area said they won’t allow the department to erect fencing pillars on pasture land.
 “Rearing cattle is the only source of income for people like me and we won’t allow the fencing in the area,” said Gul  Zaman Khan, a resident.
 The residents said that there was dispute between wildlife department and the villagers which had been settled with the mediation of a local village heads.
 They alleged that wildlife department is encroaching upon the pasture land.
 “Livestock is only source of income for people in Ajas and wildlife department encroached upon the pastureland and deprive livestock of fodder,” said Zahoor Badshah.
 Ajas block of Bandipora comprises about 12 hamlets.
 Wildlife warden Rouf Zarger said the department has planted 30000 saplings on its land but people in the locality have chopped them all which forced it to erect fencing all over the land.
 “We have report the damage and lodged FIR in the Ajas Police station,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST