BARAMULLA: The illegal soil excavation near the ruined capital of ancient Kashmir in Parihaspora village is not only threatening the archeological sites, but locals say that excavation may eat up most of structures that have so far not been declared as protected.
Locals said that some of the structures of Kashmiris Buddhist past are under grave threat in Diver village area adjacent to Parihaspora area of Pattan that according to historians served as capital 740 CE in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.
Locals said that illegal soil excavation is going unchecked in Diver village along the Parihaspora village, as hundreds of tippers; tractors laden with soil are being smuggled every passing day.
As per locals, illegal excavation of soil has posed threat to rich heritage of Buddhist monuments in the area as it has been declared protected by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) however authorities have turned ablind eve to the stop the excavation in Diver village Goverdhan hills that also have some of the monuments though unprotected.
Naseer Ahmad a local said, that there is a small mountainous valley namely as Gowardan hills along the Diver village and there are so many monuments of Buddhist era, however some people are smuggling the soil to other areas due to which not only the glory of area is in danger, it also poses threat to this historical sites/
He added that despite ban by High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, the administration is completely failed to save this historical place.
Fayaz Ahmad another important significant historic site locally named as Kane Shahar (stone city) near the area along the Parihaspora village which has been fenced by the department of archaeology where large number of people including students and other visitors are visiting, however the Gowardan area is still unfenced give the soil excavators a free hand to dig soil from the area.
Locals said that soil usually is supplied to places where people are constructing houses and shopping complexes mostly in low-lying areas , mostly wetlands, marshes around the Srinagar and other places, and these people are earning huge amount against the soil.
Earlier soon after court banning such activity the several officers including officials of revenue, police and administration visited the area and warns no one will be allowed to excavate the soil, however few days later smugglers again started their activity.
According to historians the carewas of Parihaspora and Diver are situated that are at a distance of 14 miles from Srinagar on Baramulla road, they were chosen by king Latitaditya in 750 AD for the creation of new capital city and it is certain that giving a sufficient supply of drinking water, the high and dry plateaus of Parihaspora have every advantage over the low, swampy Srinagar as building site.
However, according to locals these carewas are under serious threat that needs to be stopped at once.

Mushtaq Ahamd