news details |
|
|
| Illegal stone crushers, perceived to be sealed but only on papers; still operational | | Former DC Doda submitted affidavit in J&K HC on sealing | | ASIF IQBAL NAIK
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 24: Despite submitting the compliance report in Jammu and Kashmir High Court by the then Deputy Commissioner (DC) Doda intimating therein that all the illegally functional stone crushers falling under the jurisdiction of district Doda have been sealed.
But on the contrary, these illegal stone crushers are still very much functional with active involvement of the officials and law enforcing agencies at the helm of the affairs, promoting not only open loot of state exchequer worth crores through illegal mining but also throwing all the environmental norms to wind.
As per the details available with Early Times, these illegally operating stone crushers are still functional even though they have no permission/ licenses to run these units while the operators are also quarrying illegally.
On the bases of the case filed by a whistleblower, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on October 31, 2018 had issued the directions to DC Doda to verify the present status of the functioning of the stone crushers. In response, the then DC Doda submitted a report authenticating the allegations made by the whistleblower in his petition.
As per reports submitted by various officials, Tehsildar Assar submitted that Mir Stone Crusher and Malik Stone Crusher falling under his jurisdiction are running illegally while Tehsildar Doda submitted that Reyaz Stone Crusher, Shiva Stone Crusher and Batson Stone Crusher are running illegally in his jurisdiction.
Tehsildar Khara submitted that MS Zarger Stone Crusher Khara falling in Revenue village Indloo and MS Kwality Stone Crusher Kahara falling in Revenue village Bhatoli are running illegally, adding in his report that MS Zarger Stone Crusher is trying to harm the water bodies and even threatened the officials of Fisheries Department of dire consequences.
Tehsildar Bhella submitted that in his jurisdiction among the three stone crushers operating in the area only M/S Neeru Stone Crusher is running legally while MS LSR Logistic Pvt. Ltd Stone Crusher and hot Mix Plant and Sheetal Bridge and Highways owned by Sheetal Group of Companies are running illegally.
In Tehsil Phagsoo, the only functional crusher namely MS Aditiya Stone Crusher was found functional with valid documents at the time of inspection having license valid till December 2019.
In Tehsil Bhaderwah, stone crusher namely BRO GREF 114 and Dar Industries installed at village Nalthi and village Dradhu in Bhaderwah were found illegally running and were seized accordingly.
Speaking to Early Times, the whistleblower Advocate Nisar Ahmed Gattoo informed that the illegal actions/ operations of these stone crushers have been brought into the notice of District administration through protests, representations and resolutions from time to time but no action was taken against these units till date and they are still operating.
“The owners of these stone crushers are highly influential persons having links with higher-up bureaucrats and politicians of the Union Territory who are running this business illegally and it seems as if they are working under the patronage of the official machinery,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention here in the year 2015, Government issued guidelines for registration and operations of stone crushers and hot/wet mix plants Vide order No 104-IND dated 14-07- 2015. By this order NOCs from some more departments were to be obtained for operation of stone crushers/ hot/wet mix plants and subsequently, thereafter the erstwhile state government notified Jammu and Kashmir Minor Mineral exploitation and processing Rules 2017 Vide SRO -302 Dated 19-07-2017 for regulation of Minor Mineral based units/ Stone Crushers and Hot/wet mix plants where under a license from Directorate of Geology and Mining for establishing/ operating of these plants was made mandatory.
Speaking to Early Times, District Mineral Officer Doda, Brijesh Kumar Mishra acknowledged the truth of illegal mining and operation of illegal stone crushers in Doda District adding that due to shortage of staff with only five employees, the department was unable to monitor the illegal functioning of the stone crushers as well as illegal mining.
Meanwhile, when contacted ACR Doda said that the prime responsibility to check the illegal functioning of stone crushers or illegal mining lies with the Geology and Mining Department, adding that the department never had asked them for any security nor had intimated the administration about any of its plan. However, ACR Doda assured to look into the matter and said that the administration is ready to provide all possible assistance to the department in curbing the menace of illegal mining and functioning of illegal stone crushers in district Doda. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
