 Abodh Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 3: Despite stringent environment protection laws in place across the country and in the state of J&K and several statute bodies to ensure implementation of these laws, a stone crusher and a hot mix plant is blatantly raping these laws to the dismay and distress of gullible residents of the villages in their vicinity.
According to locals, an illegal stone crusher and a hot/wet mixing plant owned allegedly by a non State subject affluent businessman is threatening the lives of the inhabitants of villages Bhalwal, Tabela, Langar, Kot, Khatrian etc. by causing alarming levels of pollution. The thick -blanket of fumes that erupts when the illegal plant operates, spreads panic across the nearby villages.
As per SRO 302 dated 19.07.2017 issued by the government of J&K , no hot/wet mixing plant can operate till its gets N objection Certificates from district collector, department of fisheries, Department of irrigation and flood & control , District Industry Centre, Department of Geology and Mining.
Such a unit cannot be installed within 500 metres of residential area and near any road. It should not cause any damage to the health of general public, habitation, water resources fauna and flora in the close proximity. Apart from this, it should not affect the agricultural/ productive land.
Speaking to ET, some prominent citizens of the area said that this illegal plant cannot operate without the connivance of State Pollution Control Board and other authorities. "We tried to find out from the SPCB if any permission was granted to the owners of the said plant, but no information was given to us" said a resident. "One of the officials however said that 'perhaps' they had applied for the permission" he added.
Residents also disclosed that the owner of the plant is a non state subject, but has raised huge immovable properties at several places in the state with the connivance of authorities. "He owns huge banquet halls, Schools and wins road building contracts despite being an outsider" said Dalbir Singh, seeking an inquiry into the illegal operation of the plant. |
