Islamabad (Anantnag), July 7: The district administration has failed to close down three unauthorized stone crusher units operating in Mirbazar area of this south Kashmir district despite State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and Court ordering their closure. 
 The SPCB had issued an order no. 101 on November 25, 2009, order no. 1419 on February 22, 2010 and order no. 155 on March 3, 2010 under section 25/26 and section 21 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, ordering closure of the stone crushers. 
“The units have been set up and put in operation at Mirbazar unauthorizedly without obtaining the consent from the SPCB, warranted under the provisions of law,” the orders reads.
It stated that the unit holders were served notices as they were running their units without the consent of the SPCB at objectionable sites.
“The unit cannot be allowed to operate in the present status and shall amount to permit the operation in violation of laws governing environmental protection,” the orders added.
The Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad was directed to immediately close down the unit while as the Director Industries and Commerce was directed to deregister all three units and Chief Engineer, Electric and Maintenance Division PDD was asked to snap the electric supply till now the order has not been implemented.
Meanwhile, recently the High Court dismissed the petition filed by one of the owners of the stone crushers and ordered the district administration to strictly adhere to the order already passed by the SPCB.
“The DC Anantnag, Chief Engineer Electric and Director Industries and Commerce Department shall ensure strict compliance of court order no 1419/ dated February, 22, 2010. Petitioner shall not be permitted to run the unit under the garb of status quo order passed by this court till he gets an appropriate permission from the court,” the court order read.
Locals said that these stone crushers situated on agricultural and horticultural land have wreaked havoc to the environment besides effecting the crop production.
“The stone crushers are also dotting the Sandran river, thus, polluting it and disturbing its flora and fauna,” said the villagers.
They said the dust emanating from these stone crushers had led to various respiratory diseases among the villagers as they are located in the residential area.
 “A Government Primary School and Government Middle School, are also located in a close vicinity.  Crusher san any pollution control device the dust and the smoke emanating from it has also taken toll on the health of the children besides the residents,” villagers said.
The school children are also unable to concentrate on their studies because of the noise pollution caused by the high decibel sound of the stone crushers they added.
Pertinently, the SPCB norms, clearly state that a stone crusher or a brick kiln should only be set up 50 meters away from agriculture or horticulture land and should be at least 750 meters away from the residential area.
Meanwhile, locals here are dismayed about granting permission to one the influential person to set up a macadamization plant in the residential area near Sandran river.
“We are already suffering because of the illegal stone crushers and brick kilns and now the setting up of the macadamization plant will add to our woes,” the villagers rued.
When contacted Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad (Anantnag), Kifayat Hussain Rizwi said that  strict action will be taken against the illegal stone crushers operating in the area.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST