PAMPORE: Senior Bartiya Janta Party leader and DDC member for Khonmoh Er Aijaz Hussain on Tuesday addressed a gathering of persons associated with stone quarries at Athwajan in Srinagar outskirts.
The interaction was held in wake of recent statement by LG of J&K UT, Manoj Sinha, for streamlining the mining of minerals from quarries.
The stone quarry owners raised the issue of streamlining of work at stone-quarries stating that more than 10 lakh families depend on the stone-quarries.
They demanded immediate restoration of work so that they can sustain their livelihood.
Er Aijaz Hussain also urged administration to work out a resolution for those associated with the extraction of sand and other building material adding that hundreds are families depend on extraction of material business.
The locals urged Er Aijaz to pursue the issue with the local administration so that they can work without any hindrance. Er Aijaz Hussain assured them that he will take up the matter with the administration.
He told them that their issues will be resolved soon so that they can earn their livelihood in a smooth and hassle-free manner.
While addressing the gathering he said that stone quarry workers are not a mafia. “The people from Punjab and other states are given permission for quarrying but locals are prevented,” he said.
Talking to Kashmir Reader at Athwajan Er Aijaz Hussain said that around 500 stone quarry holders assembled at Athwajan.
” We want to convey that our livelihood is depend on quarries, we request that let us to earn the livelihood without any hindrance,” he said, ” LG Saha stated that mining will be streamlined but unfortunately some people in the department don’t want that quarrying be streamlined,” he said.He assured them that he will seek redressal of their grievances.
He said that he was committed to address all development related issues of the area. The locals also demanded round the clock drinking water supply to which Er Aijaz responded by saying that the Jal Shakti department has already announced by March 2023 every household will get access to clean drinking water.

Reader correspondent