Pulwama, Feb 12 (KNS): Rampant and non-stop mining of stream Rambi Ara- the major source of consumable water in Pulwama district have created drought like situation in many villages where life is dependent on these water bodies.
Extraction of gravel, sand and boulders from the Rambi Ara in Lassipora have left the residents gasping for a drop of water. The locals complain that groundwater has depleted so low due to mining that tube and bore wells dug by the residents have become non functional.
Locals said the excessive extraction of sand and gravel has damaged riverbeds and disrupted natural water-flow of these streams, which is risking life of humans and animals and the agriculture and horticulture sector.
"Tubewells dug 50 feet deep are not able to fetch water. We are facing a drought-like situation," Adnan Dar, a student of Panjran village, said. Dar has penned a heart-wrenching essay on the water crisis in his village, saying the mining has wreaked havoc to the local stream. The student has urged the authorities to curb the mining in the Rambi Ara stream and save its water.
Maqbool Dar, an official of the Mining Department, admitted that the Panjran village is most hit by the mining from Rambi Ara as 49 JCBs and 100 tractors have been illegally deployed in the area for mining .Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel"People have brought these machines solely for mining and extraction," he said, highlighting the gravity of the mining in Rambi Ara stream.
Alarmed by the rampant mining, the Mining department has formed squads to curb mining activities. Yet the mining is not being stopped. District Mineral Officer Pulwama, Manzoor Ahmed, said the department is taking action, but illegal miners find new ways to operate. "It requires community cooperation and strict monitoring," he said.
Residents of Panjran Lassipora have urged the administration to intensify their crackdown on illegal mining before it leads to an irreversible crisis. Experts warn that continued exploitation of Rambi Ara could lead to severe environmental consequences, including the destruction of aquatic life, soil erosion, and depletion of underground water reserves.
Locals demand stricter penalties and continuous monitoring to ensure that the region's natural resources are protected for future generations.(KNS)