| 8 brick kilns operate illegally in Udhampur | | Licenses not renewed since 2018, reveals RTI | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 13: Eight brick kilns in Udhampur district are operating illegally, as the licenses of these units have not been renewed since 2018.
Information obtained through RTI reveals eight brick kilns out of total nine are operating illegally, while the ninth brick kiln unit was closed by the J&K State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) in 2007.
The Public Information Officer (PIO) and the First Appellate Authority (FAA) in Deputy Commissioner Office, Udhampur, instead of providing a complete reply of queries raised by the applicant, tried to conceal the factual information, as several questions were not addressed properly.
“The FAA disposed off my appeal in February 2021, now I will knock the door of Central Information Commission,” the information seeker told Early Times, and added that though the information provided by the PIO and the FAA enough to expose deep rooted nexus between the district administration and the brick kilns owners. “Total nine brick kiln units exists in the district including M/s Sunil Brick, situated at village Sunal Tehsil Majalta, M/s Shiv Shakti Brick kiln situated at village Badola, Jib, M/s New Tawi Brick Kiln situated at village Ritti, M/s Ganesh Brick Kiln situated at Palli, Hartaryan Jib, M/s New Trikata Brick kiln situated at village Badola, Jib Thathi, M/s Bawa Amboo Brick kiln situated at village Karowa, but has been closed in 2007 by the State Pollution Control Board, M/s Vinod Brick Kiln situated at village Duddar (Ritti), M/s Sona Brick kiln situated in village Hartaryan Jib and M/s Shivalik Brick kiln situated at village Barolla”, RTI reply vide no 1242-43/Adm/RTI, dated 08/02/2021 divulged and added that the licenses of all above listed brick kilns are due for renewal since 2018.
The RTI also revealed that an eight member committee headed by the Executive Engineer, Irrigation Division Udhampur as chairperson was constituted to examine various proposals related to brick kilns in 2016, but further action in this regard was taken by the administration.
Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Indu Kanwal Chib said that she would check the matter first. “I cannot share incomplete information”, she added. |
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