As illegal soil cutting during night hours in saffron fields of Pampore town in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district goes unabated, the officials from Agriculture Department in a communiqué to Nodal Officer National Saffron Mission (NSM) has appealed him to act against the land mafia so that world famous saffron fields of Kashmir could be preserved and saved.The Agriculture officials in a letter vide number C-0/Ch2016 to Nodal Officer NSM have alleged that the department has not established any controlling mechanism to check the illegal soil cutting in saffron fields of Pampore. “It is not the agriculture officials only but the saffron cultivators also believe there is a nexus between land mafia and some government officials as a result vested interests are given a free hand to in Pampore particularly in Chandhara Karewa,” the letter reads.
A top official from Agriculture Department while handing over the letter to CNS said that some ravenous saffron growers who are hand in glove with some officials are hell bent to destroy the saffron industry in Kashmir for their petty gains.“Soil cutting in saffron fields is going on in Chandhara, Galandar and especially in Putil Bagh on large scale. These saffron fields are turning into barren lands now. Scores of JCBs and tippers could be seen busy in soil cutting and ferrying it to other places without any fear in broad day light. Saffron fields are under big threat and the irony is that even the Nodal Officer National Saffron Mission Pampore is in deep slumber and did not act against the elements with vested interests.
He alleged that some ‘greedy’ saffron growers after looting state exchequer by getting major compensation for loss of saffron crop due to floods are now busy in minting money by providing soil to the industrialists.“3,785 hectares of saffron growing areas was covered under the National Saffron Mission (NSM) in the State. The Government of India provided compensation and relief to the saffron growers after they suffered damages due to floods. Even after getting compensation, some ‘greedy’ saffron growers are hell bent to destroy this age old industry,” the Agriculture official said. The former Commissioner Secretary Agriculture and incumbent Divisional Commissioner Asghar Samoon told CNS that it is really a serious matter and he will visit these saffron fields to ascertain the facts. (CNS)