By Sameer Ahmad
Anantnag: Several stone crushers are running illegally in south kashmirs Anantnag District as the Anantnag District administration are in mute spectator and didn’t take any action against them.
Sources told to INS that Stone crusher plants in Kulamchinar Shankarpora, Sadura, Lalan on Bringi stream are all operating illegally from the river banks in the populated residential areas. The owners have no registration of stone Crushers as they all are running illegally.
These units not only create noise pollution but have also affected the vegetation like orchards, paddy fields and kitchen gardens in the adjacent areas as these emanate a huge quantity of ash and dust. Sources added.
Meanwhile INS received a Show cause notice of Geology and mining department which the Department sent to the owner of M/S Hilal stone crusher at Kulumchinar Shankerpora in which the department reminds to said owner for getting the valid license from competent authority.
However the said owner did not bother to get their stone crusher registered and not produce their license in Department and remained at their will and are operating the stone crusher illegally which is a grass negligence and aberration of SRO 302 of 2017 Dated 19-07-2017. Show cause Notice reveals.
The notice reveals that the Deputy director mineral section Kashmir Geology and mining department Srinagar has passed clear cut directions that the stipulated time period extended by the department from time to time has already elapsed and it has been finally decided by the competent authority to take the steps which shall lead to the closure of all those minor mineral based units which are operational presently but without any lawful authority (valid License) .
The department has given seven days to owner of M/S Hilal stone crusher to produce the valid license however ever after 12 days the owner failed to produce license in department. Show cause revealed.
Meanwhile locals from these area blame that the nexus between several officials in the associated departments like, Geology and Mining, Irrigation and Flood Control, Pollution Control board and Fisheries department against certain cuts have been letting these plants operate hassle free.
We are in the process of streamlining the functioning of these plants as a number of stone crusher plant operators have already been asked to seek renewed NOCs from the concerned departments and a proper license according to the revised rules laid under SRO 302. Some of them have already furnished their documents with our office beside who failed to produce their license strict action will taken against them, said Imtiyaz Khan joint Director of Geology and Mining Department to INS.
However INS tried to contact the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag but he didn’t receive our call.
