Amid lockdown, factory with 100 labourers operating in Kulgam

SRINAGAR — Amid lockdown and looming crisis over the outbreak of COVID-19, a plywood factory, where over 100 non-local labourers are working, is functioning normally in Qazigund area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

Well placed sources said that at Nipora Vessue area of Qazigund on Srinagar-Jammu Highway which falls under the jurisdiction of Revenue District Anantnag, a plywood factory in the name of M/S MAK Plywood Industries is functioning normally.

Sources added that over 100 non-local labourers are currently working in this factory and all are present there. The factory is owned by Mukhtar Ahmed Kunroo of Naibasti area of Anantnag.

“The functioning of this factory is in sheer violation of restrictions imposed by the Government under Disaster Management Act,” said a local, adding that police have not taken cognizance of this grave matter yet.

Pertinently, south Kashmir’s Kulgam district witnessed first COVID-19 case yesterday while authorities have declared Naik Mohalla as red zone.

The adjacent district of Shopian has 13 positive COVID-19 cases where two more villages including Heerpora and Kanipora have been declared as red zones. Yesterday, six positive cases were reported from the district.