| 'Possesses no valid licence for manufacturing; sale, storage' | | Sarpanch's family runs brick kiln illegally in Reasi | | avinash azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 02: Family of a sarpanch is running a brick kiln illegally at Duggi village in Reasi district, locals have alleged.
According to the locals, apart from having no valid licence under rules, the brick kiln in the month of July this year was booked by the Legal Metrology for manufacturing under-specification bricks.
"On 07-07-2020, a team led by Assistant Controller Legal Metrology Reasi (J&K), raided the premises of the Brick Kiln in issue, i.e. Bhagwati Brick Kiln Laiter, Teh. Pouni, Distt. Reasi and booked the same for under specification size manufactured bricks", sources claimed, adding that the violation committed by the owner comes under the mandate of sections 14 of the Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns (Regulation) Act, 2010.
The brick kiln is situated in front of Government Girls Middle School, Duggi of Panchyat Laiter of block Pouni, and no objection certificate issued by the Education Department in favour of the brick kiln stands withdrawn. "The distance between brick kiln and middle school, and violation rules was brought to Director School Education Jammu, who acting swiftly directed concerned ZEO to withdraw the NOC given and same was withdrawn", they said, adding that the brick kiln has no valid licence per the SRO 504 of 2017.
"Government of Jammu and Kashmir vide SRO No. 152 made the Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns (Regulation) Rules, 2011. Rule 3 of the SRO exempted the existing brick kilns, to adhere with the provisions of the act and rules, for a period of five years from the date of notification (18/05/2011) subject to general or special directions given from time to time, by the licensing authority to improve the existing machinery and for use of improved methods to eliminate air and water pollution", sources said, adding that exemption period, for the existing brick kilns, ceased on 17th of May, 2016.
"After this procurement of license under the Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns (Regulation) Act, 2010 become mandatory for all the existing brick kilns. On 13th of December, 2017 SRO 504 came into existence thereby enacting "The Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns (Regulation) Rules, 2017" in place of "The Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns (Regulation) Rules, 2011" no further exemption for the grant of license was given", they said, adding that as per rule 3 of these new rules of 2017 no manufacturing, sale and storage of brick was allowed with a valid licence.
Sources said that the brick kiln is situated along Bhamla-Pouni highway which is another violation of rules. "As per new rules, a brick kiln should be at least 100 meters away from public road, school, hospital, but same is being violated as it belongs to family of the Sarpanch", they said, adding that the matter was taken up with the Deputy Commissioner Reasi, amid COVID pandemic, but it seems that the brick kiln's owner is a "influential person" as no action was initiated.
"He (owner) very smartly procured mud on 25-02-2020, prepared ground for the manufacturing of the raw bricks on 19-03-2020 and started manufacturing of the raw bricks on 21-05-2020, all these illegal steps of brick manufacturing were brought in the knowledge of DC Reasi, on 21-05-2020 DC Reasi deputed Tehsildar Pouni to visit the sites of two brick kilns along with his team. On the spot it was found that both brick kilns were running illegally without the prior permission from the competent authority. Tehsildar Pouni issued restraining orders to both the illegally running brick kilns", they said, adding that but the owners were so adamant, finally Tehsildar Pouni directed the SHO Pouni, vide his order No. Teh/P/JA/96-98 dated 23-5-2020, to implement his earlier restraining orders.
They said that the matter was brought into the notice of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu. "The Div Com Jammu forwarded the case to Additional Commissioner Jammu, but again no action was taken against the brick kiln owner", they said, adding that now they would file a public interest litigation in High Court.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Indu Chib when contacted said that no rule was violated. "There two brick kilns in Reasi district one has been shut down as the owner could not produce valid licence during inspection, while the licence of another one was renewed as per rules", she said, adding that she would check again and if any violation was found, the brick kiln in question would also be closed. |
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