Kupwara, Nov 20: Lack of technology-based strategy by the government and disinterest of owners have hindered the revival the decades’ old mineral factories in this north Kashmir district.
 "Before eruption of armed struggle in Kashmir, there were scores of factories of world famous marble granite and limestone run in government and private sectors at Batergam, Hiri, Drugmulla and Andrahama areas employing thousands of people, besides making J&K self-sufficient in mineral production,” said locals.
 “Kupwara mines discovered in 1975 were the source of employment for thousands of residents.  Several quarries of quality Marble, Lignite, Copper ores, Iron, Graphite, Limestone, and Gypsum are spread over miles in villages Awoora, Munwun, Zurhama, Chowkibal, Andrahama, Drugmulla, Trehgam Lolab, Handwara and Karnah areas,” said Pir Abdul Rashid of Awoora.
 “Nature has bestowed Kupwara with rich mineral resources so much so that even copper was being extracted from Tram Khani, Madmaduhu Kalaroos,” he said.
 “Irony is that these copper mines are lying untapped and unutilized,” locals said.
 MLA Kupwara Mir Saifullah when contacted told Greater Kashmir that the owners of most of the units belonged to other districts of the state and they are not interested to restart the units.
 “We are motivating the local entrepreneurs to take over the units that we are ready to hand them over in a phased manner,” he said, adding that the outside entrepreneurs were “only interested in getting the subsidies.”

Mineral wealth in Kupwara
 According to officials an intensive mineral survey conducted in 1975 here had confirmed enormous mineral resources in the district.
 According to the survey the district has huge reserves of lignite, a quality of coal, found in Handwara, Chowkibal and Lolab Valley.
 According to the report of the Geological Survey of India there are lignite coal deposits of more than 4 crore tons in the district.
 About the copper ores the survey found at Lashtiyal hills, Madhmadu (Kalaroos), Handwara and Lolab area there were huge reserves. Iron-ore deposits were found in Sharda (Karnah tehsil), (Haral, Magam), Handwara and Lolab valley. Slate Stone was found in abundance in the Trehgam, Kralpora and Chowkibal areas.
 Graphite is used in the manufacture of lead pencils and is found in Bararipora (Handwara), Karnah,and Keran.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST