“Will resort to violent means if demands are not met”
Nadeem Shah
Srinagar, Nov 11: The stone quarry owners of Khonmoh have gone on an indefinite strike against the government’s reluctance to renew their work permits.
The quarry owners of Sekinar village alleged that the government has not renewed their permits since the last one and a half year.
“We have been working in our quarries since the last 50 years and it is the only source of livelihood to 500 people of our area. But the government’s callousness has rendered us jobless,” said Sanaullah Ahanger, President Stone Quarry Association.
He said that even though there are hundreds of quarries in the area, the permits of only 12 owners have been withheld.
“Our quarries are near the Khyber Cement factory and the owner of that factory wants to snatch our quarries at low rates, Sanaullah alleged, adding “due to his reach in the upper echelons of power he has managed to withhold our work permits.”
The quarry business provides employment to hundreds of youth of the area and the government’s indifference to their plight has sent the locals in despair.
“I am the sole bread winner in my family and I have taken out loan from the bank. What will I do if the quarries are closed, “asked Imtiyaz Ahamad, a quarry owner whose permit has not been renewed.
“We have been subjected to step motherly treatment by the government. The quarries from Pantha chowk to Khrew are doing their business but our quarries are shut, “said a local youth Dilawar.
The quarry owners have warned the government of ‘serious consequences’ if their permits are not renewed.
“We will be forced to resort to violent means if our quarries are closed down,” they warned.
When contacted Director Geology and Mining department, Farooq Khan said the Quarry owners do not comply with Supreme Court orders.
“The Quarry owners have to follow the directions laid by the honorable Supreme Court whereby they have to seek the NOC from the Wildlife and Forest Departments,” said Khan
He said the quarry owners will be granted the short term permits once they get the clearance from the said departments.