Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 18: Farmers in Rangen Kulreh vicinity and its adjoining areas of Chadoora in Budgam district protested today against the establishment of brick kilns on cultivable land in the area.
Scores of aggrieved farmers gathered at the Press Enclave to voice their concerns and protest against this move, citing the lack of consent from the Horticulture and Agriculture Departments.
Expressing their disappointment, the farmers alleged that despite repeated attempts, they were not provided with a copy of the permission that sanctioned residents to pursue land conversion.
“This is a public document, and in the era of transparency, when all the documents are being made public even under the RTI Act, the district administration is keeping us in the dark. Our apple farms are under threat, our health is under threat, and we are not even heard. This is injustice,” Bashir Ahmad, a farmer, said.
The concerns of the aggrieved farmers revolve around the recent consent granted for the construction of a brick kiln, a move that appears to contradict previous orders from the Pollution Control Board against setting up new brick kilns in the area.
They revealed that around two dozen brick kilns had been set up in Rangeen Kulreh village between 2003 and 2012. However, from 2013 to 2022, the authorities refrained from permitting any additional kilns in line with the directions of the Budgam district administration and the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC).
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