The people in Dachna Salamabad in Uri Baramulla are up in arms amid ongoing 'heavy' gypsum mining activity in the area.
Group of locals said that the gypsum mining activity was stopped after intervention from the quarters concerned, but was started again some time back.
"The site where the (mining) activity is going on, has several human habitations including schools in its proximity," said the locals adding, "The resumption of activity has thereby posed a serious threat to human health besides on the agricultural and horticultural production."
"We are facing a grave problem of air pollution with gypsum dust," said a local Ayaz Farooq, adding, "We suffer from chest-related disorders due to the dust emanating and to subsequent transportation of the material."
"A number of people already have disorders related to dust even as we have learnt that T.B cases are on an increase in our area," he said.
"At the beginning, the pollution was limited to certain areas in the vicinity where extraction processes were carried but now you can see dust all over the region which continues to pose a threat to the residents."
Another local said that the backbone of the economy is walnut and due to pollution it is completely destroyed.
"Other agricultural and horticultural productions have also been severely affected."
The locals also said that there is a jarring increase in the noise pollution caused by heavy machinery used in the extraction processing as well as due to the number of trucks passing through their neighbourhood.
“Very heavy machinery is used for the extraction, creating loud sounds besides heavy trucks used to ferry the gypsum only adds to the menace", another resident said.
“See the condition of roads, they are completely dilapidated and worsening each day as heavy trucks are allowed to ply by officials,” he added.
People have appealed to the LG administration and other offices concerned to intervene in the matter for the larger benefit of the local populace.
When contacted, Tehsildar Boniyar Mohammad Najeebullah Shah said that he has personally visited the site today and stopped the activity with immediate effect.
"I, alongside my team, visited the mining site today and after assessing the situation, I ordered for immediate stoppage of the activity," he said, adding, "We currently are in process to check the documents of mining owners ."
The locals, he said, have expressed their satisfaction over the action and there is a pacified situation in the area.