Date | Jan 10, 2017:

People from North Kashmir’s Handwara town Tuesday accused authorities of inaction against the vested interest elements who according to them resort to illegal extraction of sand, bajri and boulders from Nallah Rajwar round the clock.

Locals told CNS that some people are extracting sand, bajri, boulders illegally from nallah Rajwar due to which not only the water level has come down but the walls constructed on the banks meant to prevent floods have started caving in.

The locals said Illegal extraction of the raw materials is causing a huge threat to the fish production in Nallah.
“You can see JCB’s operating illegally in broad day light and yet no action is being initiated against these elements. Tippers and tractors are being loaded by the JCBs and other heavy machinery in broad daylight while officials of fisheries department are watching this vandalism helplessly,” locals alleged and claimed that there is a nexus between Fisheries Department, Geology and Mining department and extractors.

They appealed authorities to look into the matter and initiate action against the sand mafia. (

(Source: http://brighterkashmir.com/)