Livestock Rearers in Narastan Tral Stage Peaceful Protest

PTK NEWS DESK/ Basharat Rashid 

Pulwama, April 19: The sheep and cattle rearers of Narastan in Tral sub district of Pulwama have taken to the streets in a peaceful protest against the closure of forest area apartments, which has severely impacted their ability to rear their livestock due to the lack of grassland in the locality.

The protesting rearers assembled near tourist hut in Narastan village amid downpour, and were demanding that the authorities address their concerns and reopen the forest land for cattle rearing.

“With the closure of the forest area apartments, we have been left without suitable grazing areas for our animals, putting our livelihoods at stake. Rearing sheep, cattle is the lone source of income for most of the people here,” they said.

Narastan village is surrounded by forests, and the closure of the forest land has been causing a lot of difficulties for the rearers who rely on grazing their cattle and sheep there for their livelihoods.

“Forest department has closed some apartments around Narastan village, where our cattle particularly sheep would graze. Amid closure, the rearers are facing tough time as most of the people here earn livelihood from it,” a local, Ghulam Hassan Gorsi said.

The protesters sought immediate intervention of authoriries particularly LG in resolving this issue, as by reopening the forest land, the rearers will once again have access to the much-needed grassland for their livestock.