Karewas in Cetnral Kashmir’s Budgam district have been disfigured by vested interest elements where soil cutting allegedly in connivance with officials is going on from past couple of months.The contractors who use JCB’s and bulldozers in broad day light can bee seen excavating soil in several areas of Budgam including Beerwah, Mallapora, Chaira, Sonar Kolipora, Batapora, Dedan, Sangpora and Magam. Even soil cutting process is going on unabated near DC Office Budgam. Reports said that neither officials from civil administration nor from police have been taking cognizance of this illegal practice. Locals said that due to lack of action from local administration, land mafia has become more active from past few weeks. They resort to soil cutting even in broad day light, thus damaging the karewas of Budgam.A local from Dedan village told CNS that after the complaint from the people, District administration had stopped this illegal practice, but now again these vested interest elements have become active.
“This illegal practice is not possible without the hidden support of officials,” he said. Locals while expressing anguish over the unabated plunder of karewas hold construction companies, land mafias and real estate companies responsible for the mess. Huge JCBs and other heavy duty earth excavators are being used to excavate the soil which has turned these beautiful hills into valleys of death and destruction.Majority of the contractors while admitting that unabated soil cutting is going in different villages of Budgam said that they indulge in this practice only after the and individual or a company in need of soil for filling obtain permission from the district administration. “Recently, we supplied soil to a police officer who had properly sought permission from the district administration,” said a contractor.Pertinently, as per section 133-A of J&K Land Revenue Act, excavation of soil is banned for personal gains. (CNS)