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Illegal functioning of stone crushers-An alarming situation

Young Bites. Dated: 9/17/2018 7:54:05 AM

V.K Gupta
Jammu, Sep 16
Peeved over the open defiance of laws and prescribed guidelines by the politicians in running illegal stone crushers and hot/wet mix plants in the State, public cautioned the Govt to initiate action and remove the same which is a great threat to environment and posses health hazard to the masses residing in the surrounding areas.It is one of the major source of pollution which must be controlled immediately.
Public failed to awaken the concerned authorities who were willfully supporting these illegal units in view of their political influence.
Illegal operation and mushrooming of stone crushers,creates an alarming situation for administration and an eye opener for state government to take strict action against the culprits.Government should constitute committee to assess the ground situation which poses environment threat created due to illegal operation of stone crusher.Most of the stone crushers and hot/wet mix plants are operating illegally in the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir right under the nose of concerned authorities thereby contributing to the environment pollution, which otherwise has already assumed alarming proportion in major parts of the State.At present there are no comprehensive rules for registration and operation of stone crushers and hot/wet mix plants in Jammu and Kashmir and they were being allowed to operate by the Geology and Mining Department only on obtaining No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from certain departments.Most of the stone crushers and hot/wet mix plants in district Jammu, are owned by some influential persons and operated by abusing their position and authority to run these illegal units, despite huge public outrage in the area, the authorities concerned are shutting their eyes to the grave irregularity. It is worthwhile to mention here that under J&K Minor Mineral Exploitation and Processing Rules, 2017 no minor mineral based unit/plant/crusher shall be established on agricultural, grazing, Shamliat, Khahcharai and forest land; within the prohibited wildlife and reserved forest area,residential area,hospitals,nursing homes,health centres,tourist complex and educational institutes. Seeking the immediate disbanding of such un-authorized stone crushers, such illegal units had caused huge environmental and ecological degradation besides serious health hazards to human health.The State Govt should ensure strict monitoring of the stone crushers and hot/wet mix plants but nodal agency for regulation of stone crushers, had abdicated their responsibility due to vested interests. several units had been installed in prohibited areas and non specified locations by powerful mafia in league with Govt functionaries.So there is dire need that govt shoud awake from deep slumber and should pay attention to the alarming situation arising due to negligent attitude of the govt. stone crushers installed on river beds, on kah-charai/state lands or in the vicinity of schools, habitations, forests, hospitals etc in violation of rules were required to be immediately disbanded with action under law against the violators with a beginning to be made by dismantling such illegal units to save the environment from pollution. Later directions were issued to the Regional Offices that the operation/functioning of all minor mineral based units like crushers and hot/wet mixing plants, marble and granite cutting/polishing/POP etc units shall be strictly regulated under these rules.