The residents of Khrew and Khanmoh in Pampore Tehsil have expressed serious concern over the increasing number of cement manufacturing factories, which they said have become major source of pollution in the area. Demanding that the factories should either be closed down or shifted to some uninhabited areas, the residents maintained that cement plants continue to affect the growth and production of saffron fields and other vegetations badly. They said that a large quantum of highly hazardous dust emanating from factories for hours together was also causing chest complications to them and the children were more prone to it. The locals have demanded that the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), India's premier environment institute, should conduct a survey of 'environment in areas' coming under the affects of operation of cement factories. There are nine cement plants functional in these areas for past ten years and much to the displeasure of locals, six other plants are undergoing construction. It is in place to mention that Dachigam National park (notified as wild life area in 1945) is only half a kilometer away from cement plants. The wild life park is also the habitat of very rare indigenous endangered specie Hangul. The cement factories, the wild life officials said, were a threat to the habitat and survival of the wild animals. In 1990, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, had termed the Dachigam National park as having national importance and recommended the expansion of wild life park. An international team of biologists under the aegis of CW Hollow way also recommended the expansion of the park for the survival of wild life. The limestone (the basic raw material) required for the manufacture of cement is obtained by means of mining and blasting of hill locks and mountains surrounding the Dachigam Park. The aggrieved locals alleged that despite many representations to the authorities concerned for action against owners of the cement plants operating within inhabited areas in gross violation of norms, the authorities concerned have failed to take action under law against the owners of the mills. A good chunk of farmers cultivating saffron in these areas said that the operation of cement mills involving emission of great quantum of dust has badly affected the growth and production of saffron and other vegetation. "Our main source of livelihood, saffron cultivated by majority of population here is under great threat. Round the clock functioning of cement plants has greatly affected the production of saffron bedsides other vegetation. And ironically, additional cement plants are coming up in these areas to further play havoc to our crops and health," said Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Khrew adding that despite many representations for closure or shifting of cement plants, the authorities have not bothered to take any step to address this serious problem. Chief Wildlife warden told Kashmir Times the Wildlife department has managed a complete study of the 'operations of cement plants' near the wild life area. He said that it was a threat to the habitat and survival of wild animals also. A non-government organisation 'Coalition of concerned citizens' had also filed a PIL in court seeking the closure of cement factories. The NGO had sought the closure or shifting of cement plants to some uninhabited areas on account of the fact the functioning of factories was very hazardous to people living n the area and also had a great affect on production of saffron and other vegetation. Despite repeated attempts, no official of state Pollution Control Board (PCB) could be contacted for comments.