This bus connects border villages to the heart of Kashmir

The new service from Teetwal in Kupwara district is transforming lives by ensuring better access to education, employment and healthcare facilities Kupwara, Kashmir: Rashid Ahmad (53) is relieved that he can reach Srinagar in six hours to meet his son studying medicine at the Government Medical College. As he gets ready for the 169-km journey from Teetwal in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, he says, “Days of planning and more money than what we could comfortably afford were needed to reach the place before the arrival of a bus connecting Teetwal to Srinagar via Kupwara.”Run by the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC), this bus has become a beacon of hope for Teetwal and Tangdhar (CT), the border villages situated in the scenic Karnah Valley. Karnah, Kralpora and Chowkibal, all situated near the Line of Control (LoC), also benefit from the service.The bus starts at 8.30 am from Teetwal and travels 83 km to reach Kupwara by 11 am. The hilly terrain, Army convoy movement and extensive security check at Sadhna Top of bus passengers — the route has seen massive transportation drugs from across the border — slow down the bus. From Kupwara, the bus plies another 86 km to reach Srinagar by 2 pm.According to the 2011 Census, around 80,000 people reside at Teetwal and Tangdhar. A majority of them belong to the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities, both listed as Scheduled Tribes.“Earlier, we could not reach Kupwara without spending Rs 700 on a private vehicle [Tata Sumo]," said Ahmad. In contrast, a bus ticket to Srinagar costs only Rs 280.This is a substantial saving for the village population dependent on livestock rearing. “People in Teetwal and Tangdhar rear cattle, sheep and goats. They are also into small-scale agriculture. As the villages are located close to the LoC, some work as porters at the military base near here,” Ahmad adds.The people had been seeking better connectivity for a long time and had approached the authorities several times. But their efforts became successful only in May, when the then Kupwara Deputy Commissioner, Doifode Sagar Dattatray, agreed to their demand and flagged off the service. The bus driver makes regular stops along the route to pick up passengers (Photo - Suhail Khan, 101Reporters)A bridge between villagers, better lifeSaja Begum (55) of Jabri village in Karnah tehsil told 101Reporters that the bus service has enabled women in nearby villages to access better medical facilities. “When I was pregnant, people walked all the way to the nearest primary health centre, about 20 km away, carrying me.  I was writhing in pain, but we could reach the centre only two hours later,” she said.“I wish no woman goes through what I have faced. Now, the bus service helps pregnant women to travel for their regular medical check-ups. In the past, the villagers had to rely on divine intervention if complications arose during childbirth.”  Shameema Begum (52) agrees with Saja. “In the upper areas of Karnah Valley, not even one household owns a vehicle. The communities depend on selling wood for income. There is always a lack of resources in our village, but we could not travel to even nearby areas seeking better jobs.”She said people used to worry about sending children to Srinagar or other parts of Kashmir for higher education. However, things are slowly changing with the new bus service.  Waris Fayaz (26), a college student from Tangdhar CT, studies in Srinagar. “We can plan visits to our hometown every weekend, which we could not do previously. I feel that students and their families have benefitted the most from this bus connectivity,” he said.People in these remote regions hope the bus will ply in winter months also. To date, the villages have remained cut off for four to five months due to heavy snowfall. Usually, the private vehicles on the Srinagar-Kupwara route prefer not to ply in the snow. However, as the border tourism initiative launched by the Union Territory administration over two years ago has started to get good reception among domestic and international tourists since May this year, people expect the bus service will not be disrupted. Under the initiative, the roads will be kept operational in the winter season by engaging men and machinery on the ground. Bus departs early in the morning and awaits passengers at one of the designated bus stops (Photo - Suhail Khan, 101Reporters)Tourist footfalls increaseLocals claim that tourist footfalls in the region have increased ever since the bus began to ply. Due to heightened security concerns stemming from cross-border tensions, access to Teetwal, Tangdhar and other border regions in Kupwara was restricted for tourists. However, following the ceasefire agreement of February 25, 2021, the situation has considerably stabilised along the border with Pakistan. Gradually, tourists began to make use of the online portal for e-permissions, aimed at facilitating visits by non-residents to these border areas.According to government data, 3.75 lakh tourists visited the district in 2022-23. In the current fiscal, 2.5 lakh tourists have already been to the district. Teetwal alone attracted 30,000 tourists during this period. “Travellers enchanted by the region's ethereal beauty now have easier access to the hidden gems along the bus route,” said Adnan Ahmad (38), a driver operating the Teetwal-Srinagar bus.The Karnah Valley is witnessing an expansion in shops and businesses that cater to tourists, thanks to the border tourism initiative and the bus service. The residents also have a better market for their agricultural produce and handcrafted goods now. Additionally, the concept of homestays has gained popularity, with the construction of several accommodation facilities going on at present.Parvaiz Ahmad, the general manager of Kashmir district services, JKRTC, told 101Reporters that the locals were very active in searching for a suitable driver and conductor for the bus. “Once the candidates were shortlisted with their help, the department conducted formal interviews for the selection. Such collaborative approaches empower the community members to secure their livelihood,” he said.Saja claimed the bus was a step towards improving their quality of life. “There is still a long way to go. Despite the affordable fare, there are many who cannot even pay that amount. Something that improves the people’s livelihood options and also their quality of life is what we hope for next.” Edited by Tanya ShrivastavaCover Photo - Passengers boarded the bus, and began their journey to Srinagar city (Suhail Khan, 101Reporters)

Illegal stone quarries in Sopore shut, but safety still takes a back seat

Government action forces 10 illegal quarries to stop operations; workers at the lone quarry with licence claim they are not given safety gears  Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir: For the last 14 years, walking sticks have been the best friends of Nazir Ahmad Malla (55). The traumatic memories of the day he lost both his legs are still fresh in his mind. “I was working in a stone quarry when a huge rock came crashing on my friend and me,” says Malla, who has been confined to a life of immobility since then.Nazir Ahmad Malla, victim of stone quarry mishap in Baramulla village (Photo - Suhail Khan, 101Reporters) The stone quarry industry has long been a vital source of income for the local community in North Kashmir's Sopore, but its impact on public health and environment has been devastating. But things are changing for good. Only one quarry with a licence to operate functions in Sopore now. Another 10 have been shut following a government clampdown on illegal units. In the last five years, only one quarry-related accidental death has been reported in Sopore.“I was a daily wage labourer and was not entitled for compensation from the contractor, but the stone quarry association extended medical assistance to me," says Malla, a father of two. “Life is not the same as it was years ago. My family had to face a lot, but now my children are mature enough to earn a livelihood for themselves,” he sighs.Manzoor Ahmad Hajam (48) is bedridden after a quarry accident in 2013. He speaks about his shattered dreams and the desperation he feels in his inability to support his family. “I am bedridden and my family is suffering. Had it not been for the local mohalla committee that takes care of my medicines and family needs, it would have been disastrous,” says Hajam thankfully. Both Malla and Hajam, who worked in the legal quarry, repeat that working as a labourer at a stone quarry is akin to embracing death beforehand, as one has to manually roll the rock pieces and load it onto vehicles. No safety gears were provided. Often a heavy rock rolls down and crashes everything present in its way. “You never know when a boulder will hit you and you will be dead or crippled for the whole life,” says Hajam.Stone quarry workers have been in the profession for generations. They do not have any other job opportunities around. At present, a quarry worker earns around Rs 700 to 800 per day.  “There should be other jobs for such youth who are not educated enough to work in the private or government sector. After the accident, I made sure that my son did not become a quarry labourer. He is doing his postgraduation now,” Hajam adds. Nazir Ahmad, a cluster head at a quarry unit, underlines the significance of safety protocols and calls on the government to enforce them to prevent accidents and injuries. “Workers are provided with safety helmets, but how come it will help or protect when a massive rock collapses?”Nazir Ahmad Dar, cluster head at quarry unit, overseeing operations (Photo - Suhail Khan, 101Reporters) However, Irshad Ahmad (34), a quarry worker in Baramulla, says no safety measures are implemented. “Neither the company nor the contractor provides us with safety gears. Moreover, workers do not adhere to safety protocols,” he claims.“A strict order to the contractors and companies from the government regarding adherence to safety measures is needed. Providing safety gears to workers should be made mandatory,” Irshad says, while suggesting that earthmovers and quarry rollers could make the job easier.More issues in North Kashmir There is a huge demand for the extracted stones in the construction sector. However, dust generated from quarries and during stone transportation is still a cause for concern. Locals lament that a dusty atmosphere has replaced the once green landscape. “We do not even open the windows of our house. We have had infections of various types. Our health is deteriorating,” says Noor Mohammad, who lives near a stone quarry in Baramulla. A busy quarry in Baramulla (Photo - Suhail Khan, 101Reporters)Dr Waseem Ahmad Mir, Physician Specialist, Government Medical College (GMC), Baramulla, tells 101Reporters that at least four persons with respiratory problems consult him in a month. Most of the cases he attends to are of silicosis. “Seasonal allergies may occur due to factors such as shedding of pollen by female species of Russian poplar trees. However, the presence of excessive dust particles from stone quarrying or mining activities directly exacerbates respiratory conditions. This undeniable link between airborne dust and respiratory ailments leads to a variety of associated diseases." Besides the GMC, a sub-district hospital in Sopore also mostly deals with respiratory issues.Citing adverse environmental impacts such as deforestation, crop damage and health issues, Aijaz Ahmad, a senior executive member of the Environmental Policy Group (EPG), an enviro-social think tank based in Srinagar, says the dust also affects crop productivity and quality.Aijaz claims licences are provided only after getting environmental clearance, but illegal mining causes issues in some places. However, Sarfaraz Ahmad, District Mining Officer, Baramulla, tells 101Reporters that no illegal mining happens. "Stone quarries run at nearly 15 places in parts of North Kashmir. Illegal mining is not possible anywhere," he claims.He adds that if the stone quarry is on state’s land, the government authorities take care of it. For those functioning on private or rented lands, the owner has to get a no-objection certificate from various departments, including the forest, and local authorities. While acknowledging that geological mining policies and regulations govern quarrying, Aijaz expresses concern over the growing trend of quarrying in commercial areas. The Mining and Geology Department officials, however, claim that a few stone quarries working in residential areas have been prevented from operating due to their timely intervention.According to environmental lawyer Nadeem Qadri, the major challenge lies in the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Minor Mineral Concession, Storage, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules, 2016. “The procedures have become bureaucratic and complex. The traditional miners and stone quarry workers are unfamiliar with the cluster system, mining plans and steps to obtain environmental clearances,” he says.The other laws that govern stone quarries of Jammu and Kashmir are Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.Qadri informs that there are reports suggesting that the Department of Mining and Geology will introduce cultural mining practices (where no dust/threat to life occurs) for those engaged in traditional mining. This approach would involve working on a royalty-based system (contractual payment for using government assets) with access to various schemes such as labour registration and insurance.“However, the implementation of these plans remains disorganised. There is a need to adopt a comprehensive perspective on rehabilitating and regulating mining activities within the framework of existing laws and rules,” he emphasises. Sarfaraz claims the mining department has implemented several measures to prevent fatalities. "Modern machinery and provisions for goggles, helmets and other safety gears have been made for the workers of government-run stone quarries," he says.A regulatory board set up by the department checks if the quarry is affecting the environment, health of people living nearby, or creating ecological imbalance. It also checks if the quarry is legal. Meanwhile, Mohammad Sultan Bhat (42), a leaseholder, says workers are given safety gears and offered medical or financial assistance in case of any eventuality. "We take proper permission from the government and start mining after assessing the ecological factors. Workers are provided with every possible support," Sultan adds.  Edited by Rekha PulinnoliCover Photo - Workers at a stone quarry in Baramulla take a moment to rest, shelter against the scorching summer heat (Photo - Suhail Khan, 101Reporters)