Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 15: Fearing degradation of forest cover and a threat to eco-sensitive Dachigam National Park, the residents of Zewan today protested in Srinagar against the Government’s move to rehabilitate the stone miners of Panthachowk at Zewan, wherein miners will be allowed to extract rocks from the ecologically fragile hills of Zewan.
Riyaz Ahmad, a protester, said there were already 50-60 quaries operational in their area and diverting more stone quarries would put the whole neighbourhood vulnerable to an environmental catastrophe.
He further said the move may have drastic effects on the forest cover and Dachigam National Park which house several endangered species including indigenous stag, Hangul. “I want to ask Government if they have banned the mining at one place why are they allowing it at other? Are we not humans living here?”
Pertinently, last month government said that stone quarries were hindering the implementation of ambitious smart city project and individual notices to stop the age old practice were sent to stone miners of Panthachowk.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
