SRINAGAR The ban of quarrying operations at Athwajan, and Panthachowk Srinagar sparked a protest in Kashmir capital Srinagar on Friday.
The Quarry holders who assembled in Press Enclave Srinagar asked government to resolve their issue without any delay.
The protest was organized by United Quarry Association and Himalayan Quarry and Tipper Association.
The protesters said that they should be allowed to work in their respective quarries at Athwajan and Panthachowk while ban imposed by the government should be revoked. They blamed Geology and Mining officials of misleading the government. We are starving and our children are suffering. The government ban has rendered us jobless, they said.
Government had initiated a process to shift us to Zewan and Shaleguph but there people raise objections and dont allow us to work. We dont know what has been happening. The government has snatched our livelihood, the protesting quarry holders told news agency CNS.
They said before issuing ban order, the government didnt take quarry holders into confidence given the fact they pay taxes in the form of Royalty towards Geology and Mining Department and in return get permission for extraction of stones for sale.
It is irony that the government is mulling now to cancel our licenses of blasting. It will badly affect us. If the attitude of the government will not change, then we will be forced to hit to roads on daily basis along with our family members, they said.
We urge upon to government to resolve our issue amicably. We have been facing hardships while the governments attitude has rendered us jobless, the quarry holders said.