Stone crushers violate norms in J&K

Stone crushers violate norms in J&K,

Fail to undertake pollution control measures

Yash Khajuria   

JAMMU, June 11: In blatant violation of rules governing environmental protection in Jammu and Kashmir, over 688 stone crusher units in the State are not undertaking the measures to minimize the pollution levels. 

While these highly air polluting units are flouting the norms with impunity since past many years, the environmental watchdog, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB), is watching like a mute spectator.

Ashok Sharma, State convener Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action (ICELA) said that despite of repeated representations by the villagers and local ICELA committee to the deputy commissioner, state pollution control board (PCB) Jammu and vice president AFCONS Mumbai these polluting units still continued their functioning at Panjgrian, Nagrota. 

He revealed a disturbing fact that due to the lip lock attitude of the Authorities number of people which includes Sagar Singh, Asha Devi, Mohan Lal Sharma, Tara Mani Sharma and Gandharav Singh have lost their precious life due to asthma, kidney failure and other chest and lung as a result of theses polluting units in the surrounding. 

Lavish a 12 years old boy who is suffering from renal failure and serious throat infection seeking treatment in PGI is the direst case’ among the people who are suffering from the serious diseases due to these polluting units. 

However, all the required facilities required for the smooth survival of life does exist there at village Panjgrian, but due to the degradation of environment at alarming rate by these unchecked polluting units both the humans and cattle of the village are facing threat to their life. 

According to the official records there are 688 registered stone crusher units across the State out of which 411 operate in Kashmir region. “Being a red category industry, the pollution control norms for the stone crushers are being violated with impunity. As per SPCB norms, there should be three rows of trees encircling the stone crusher for reducing the impact of dust emission. But not a single tree has been planted at most of such units in Jammu region”, sources said. 

If Sources are to believed the authorities including the educational, animal and sheep husbandry, PCB, PHE, agriculture, horticulture, forest, private schools and BDO have not issued any NOC to these units but these units are still operational on the strength of bogus NOC’s, as most of the crushing unit owners have strong political links and are also hand in glove with the authorities. 

Under the full official patronage of the authorities entrusted with the job to check such pollution causing destruction. 

When contacted to the Sanjeev verma DC Jammu for the official Version he said that to keep check over the violation of Norms by these Units is the Duty of Pollution Control Board and they should examine the matter but clearly it is not the task of his constitutional job.