CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has urged government to put in abeyance the implementation of SRO-105 of Geology and Mining department by virtue of which royalty on stone quarrying has been increased and the outside state bidders have been allowed to participate in bidding for mineral excavation in Jammu and Kashmir.In a statement issued to KNS, Tarigami said that if the government is interested to propose implementation of SRO 105 it should be deferred till the upcoming assembly session. “Any such proposal needs to be first discussed and debated in the legislative assembly. Prima Facie the provisions of SRO 105 seem not in the interest of public and more particularly are bound to escalate the construction costs in Kashmir. So this proposal should be first mooted before the legislative assembly for necessary amendments,” Tarigami demanded.
The CPI (M) leader said that a cursory analysis of the provisions of the SRO in question reveal that the same will deprive a livelihood to hundreds of labourers associated with quarrying and constriction business. “This SRO is not only anti people but will do great injustice by way of rendering hundreds of poor labourers jobless. It will be in the interest of people if this controversial order is put in abeyance till the upcoming assembly session,” he demanded.
He said the contentious order has already evoked a sharp reaction in many districts of Valley where people associated with quarrying business are on strike. “This order will not only create a law and order situation but will genuinely affect the people who aspire to repair or construct news houses after suffering immensely due to September 2014 floods in Srinagar,” he added. (KNS)