Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Oct 20: Kashmir’s traditional grinding mill, Aab-e-Gratte is fast losing the ground to modern gadgets. But Surfraw village in Ganderbal district is still housing a centuries-old grinding mill which runs by the force of water.
The water mills grind cereals, wheat, rice and other grains in fine quality to produce flour. Owner of water mill Mir Wali of Syed Basti Surfraw of Ganderbal said that he operated the mill (Aab Gratte) for the last 70 years in his own village. The 90-year-old said that his water mill suffered massive damage in devastating floods in 1992 but he did not give up and resumed the work again.
The mill works with the force of water which generates energy to rotate the wheel.
“I will try to keep this tradition alive and my children will follow in my footsteps. These water mills essentially do not produce air pollution or sound pollution and it is a renewable source of energy,” Mir said.
His son said that due to unemployment, he followed his father’s profession and has been working in the mill for the last many years.
Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, a customer who travels around 10 kilometres to get his flour grinded, said that flour obtained from traditional mill is delicious and is cost-effective.
