Threat To Lidder River

Decades long illegal extraction by the people has posed a threat to Lidder rivulet.Lidder,is known not only for its crystal clear waters but for the quality trout present in it. But the decades long illegal extraction of sand and boulders from it is not only polluting its waters but damaging the trout culture also. They people extracti sand and boulders from the river along the 15 km strech from Nambal to Aang in district Anantnag. “The illegal extraction in the river has been going on unabated for decades together,” said a resident of Aang. “Lakhs of people use water of Lidder river for drinking purposes. Besides the quality trout present in the river is famous all over the world,” said a group of citizens of Akura village.

However an official of the Fisheries department said that the political intrusion impedes action against the people indulging in the illegal extraction in Lidder. “We many a time seized the tools of the people carrying out the extraction of sand and boulders from the river but the intervention of local politicians forced us hand over the same to them,” said an official.

When contacted deputy commissioner Anantnag, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi said that he will seriously look into the matter and ensure that no extraction is done in the river.“I am coming to know about the illegal extraction in Lidder for the first time. Only tomorrow I will dispatch a team of officials to the area and ensure that the extraction is stopped,” DC said.