EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 11: The whimsical attitude of contractors, who have been getting contracts for the extraction of minor minerals from the rivers of Jammu and Kashmir for the last so many years, is likely to come under strict monitoring of the authorities as they have to adhere the Environment Management Plan (EMP) submitted for getting environmental clearance to start extraction.
The extraction of minor minerals from rivers, rivulets and other water sources was banned in view of the fact that extraction of minerals from 208 out of total 224 minor mineral blocks had been going on without any environmental clearance as well as without any mining plan, after which the mining was banned across Jammu and Kashmir following repeated communiqué forwarded by the Jammu and Kashmir State Pollution Control Board to Director Geology and Mining Department in November and December 2019.
Later on the instructions of government, the process of extraction of minor minerals has been started but now the contractors would have to adhere the Environment Management Plan (EVP) submitted for getting the environment clearance from state level committee.
Sources said that the tenders were floated by the Geology and Mining department after identification of the blocks, from where extraction of minor minerals could be done. “Though tenders have been awarded to the contractors for several blocks but without getting environmental clearance, the extraction could not be done by the contractors”, sources said, adding that even after getting the environmental clearance, the contractor would have to adhere the EMP.
As per the EMP, the contractor would have to extract minerals from the identified areas. “the identified areas in the rivers/rivulets would be marked with installation of the pillars and no extraction would be done apart from the marked areas”, an official said, adding that digging of minerals from the identified block would not be more than one meter.
“The contractor would have to spend 5 percent of his profit as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for public welfare and would have to provide employment to the locals, from where minor minerals would be extracted. To save the environment the contractors have already submitted their plans”, sources said, adding that the contractors have to adhere these EMP and violation of the EMP, would warrant action.
“Information regarding EMP submitted by the contractors, violation if any would also be monitored by public through getting information under RTI”, sources said, adding that the whimsical approach of the contractors would be minimized if the rules would be implemented strictly. |
