Locals in Sheikhzu Wangipora village of Sumbal have voiced serious apprehension over the unbridled extraction and looting of sand from the Jhelum River, allegedly taking place under the supervision of district mineral authorities from Bandipora and Ganderbal. Despite the existence of regulations such as the Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act 2010 and Minor Mineral Concession Rules 2016, the illicit sand extraction continues, even in broad daylight.
Residents, disturbed by the apparent inaction of district mineral authorities, are questioning the effectiveness of existing laws in curbing the sand mafia’s activities. Er Suhail (ErSuhail22), a local resident, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concern, asking whether the sand mafia operates immune to the laws of the land. He raised questions about the perceived influence of the District Mineral Officers (DMO) in Ganderbal and Bandipora, implying that they might wield more power than the District Magistrate and the administration of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
Er Suhail’s tweets underscore a long-standing issue, as he previously highlighted the persistent sand theft in Sumbal, Sheikhzu Wangipora, despite earlier reports. He drew attention to concerns raised during the tenure of the former Executive Engineer (Ex En) FC, indicating that the problem escalated post-retirement. The discrepancy in the reports of the new Ex En further intensifies the debate, suggesting a contradiction enabling the ongoing plunder.
In a direct appeal to the district administrations, Er Suhail requested an investigation into the alleged theft by the sand mafia. He emphasized the need to uncover who benefits from this illicit trade, asserting that it constitutes a clear violation of Section 3.1. The tweets bring to light the urgency of addressing the issue and ensuring accountability in the face of ongoing sand theft in Sumbal, Sheikhzu Wangipora.
