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| AEO, Chuni Lal |
Pampore , National Saffron Mission in Pampore and adjoining areas is
under threat from land mafia. Recently Agriculture Extension Officer
(AEO) Zone Pampore Shri Chuni Lal wrote a
letter to Tehsildar Pampore, asking him to stop the illegal excavation
of saffron land in the area. “The field agency of Agriculture Department
Lethpora has reported that the earth excavation by some persons from
Chandhara is posing threat to saffron land. The district officers of our
department are desirous to know the revenue details of land being
excavated with name/particulars and other deaths of excavators
involved,” states the letter, a copy of which is lying with Greater
Kashmir.
The Agriculture Officer also expressed apprehension over the impact of excavation on National Saffron Mission.
Karewas are being leveled to smuggle the excavated soil to different places for filling up marsh land in the outskirts of Srinagar city where new colonies are coming up.
The Agriculture Officer also expressed apprehension over the impact of excavation on National Saffron Mission.
Karewas are being leveled to smuggle the excavated soil to different places for filling up marsh land in the outskirts of Srinagar city where new colonies are coming up.
“Actually Revenue officials are hand
in glove with the land mafia. They (land mafia) are leveling these
Karewas for various reasons. One factor is that they save transportation
charges which they would have had to pay if they would have to get the
soil from 6, 7 kms away. Every day hundreds of tippers ferry soil from,
Chandhara, Dusoo, Pampore and Lethpora,” said Muhammad Yousuf Malik, a
member of local social welfare organisation Pampore which is one of the
organizations spearheading the campaign to stop illegal extraction of
land.
Fed up with the inaction of the local Revenue officials, locals had approached Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on May 2. “He gave a patient hearing to us and promised to take necessary action against land mafia of Pampore who have leveled miles of Karewas by their huge earthmovers. Next day the Additional Divisional Commissioner (ADC) Kashmir, came to the town to have on spot assessment of the sites where illegal excavation of saffron soil was being done,” Ghulam Nabi Sheikh said.
But locals complained that ADC “was not taken to the major sites like Samboora and actual sites at Chandhara where, where from saffron soil is supplied for different projects, particularly for the four-lane highway project.”
Chairman of the Legal Cell Pampore, Bashir Ahmed said that they have been fighting for the status quo of the saffron land from long time, “actually it is nexuses between administration and contractors. We have been fighting for a long time to save the land. There are clear directions from court and various laws are also there to save the land. But ultimately these need to be implemented.”
When contacted Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, he said, “This has not come in my knowledge. I will look into the matter.”
Agriculture For The Future
Sheikh GULZAAR
Head, Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
(Plant Introduction Centre's ) Phalgham, Sonamarag, Naranag, Gulmarag & Kishtwar)
(Member : Organic Farming Association of India)
Address: "Ginkgo House" Nambalbal, (Via Wuyan-Meej Road), Pampore PPR JK 192121
Ph: 09858986794,01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com
Fed up with the inaction of the local Revenue officials, locals had approached Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on May 2. “He gave a patient hearing to us and promised to take necessary action against land mafia of Pampore who have leveled miles of Karewas by their huge earthmovers. Next day the Additional Divisional Commissioner (ADC) Kashmir, came to the town to have on spot assessment of the sites where illegal excavation of saffron soil was being done,” Ghulam Nabi Sheikh said.
But locals complained that ADC “was not taken to the major sites like Samboora and actual sites at Chandhara where, where from saffron soil is supplied for different projects, particularly for the four-lane highway project.”
Chairman of the Legal Cell Pampore, Bashir Ahmed said that they have been fighting for the status quo of the saffron land from long time, “actually it is nexuses between administration and contractors. We have been fighting for a long time to save the land. There are clear directions from court and various laws are also there to save the land. But ultimately these need to be implemented.”
When contacted Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, he said, “This has not come in my knowledge. I will look into the matter.”
Agriculture For The Future
Sheikh GULZAAR
Head, Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
(Plant Introduction Centre's ) Phalgham, Sonamarag, Naranag, Gulmarag & Kishtwar)
(Member : Organic Farming Association of India)
Address: "Ginkgo House" Nambalbal, (Via Wuyan-Meej Road), Pampore PPR JK 192121
Ph: 09858986794,01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com
