July 2020. Hundreds of mining contractors in Indian-administered Kashmir have been left hanging in the balance after the regional administration gave contracts to non-locals. “This move has increased manifold financial problems of local residents associated with the sector amid the looming pandemic crisis,” said Mohammad Muzaffar, who heads the mining association in the region. More than 200 mineral blocks in the Jhelum River and its tributaries across all 10 districts of the region were opened for mining of sand, boulders, gravel and other river bed materials in December through online bidding. But due to internet restrictions, local contractors could not participate in the bidding process after the Indian government stripped the region of its limited autonomy last August and bifurcated it into two federal territories. “It is not injustice but murder with us and our families,” local contractor Abdul Ahad told Anadolu Agency.
Jul 2020. Mining in Kashmir
