Jammu, Mar 28: Signifying the lackadaisical approach of the authorities towards pollution control measures, 65 brick kilns and 32 stone crushers in J&K were operating unauthorizedly during the last two years.
 Data submitted to the House Committee on Environment by Pollution Control Board revealed that keeping in view the environmental concerns, the Board had ordered closure of 63 stone crushers as these were functioning in violation of norms. However, only 13 stone crusher owners closed their operation in past two years, while notices against 11 units were withdrawn after they completed the pollution control formalities. The owners of remaining eight crushers went to court and secured stay against the closure notice.
 “The department has communicated the reminder letters with regard to the closure orders to the concerned Deputy Commissioners for their implementation”, PCB responded to the Committee in reply to its queries.
 Committee members had directed it to furnish district wise   list of crushers which were still functioning in violation of rules so that the members could take up the issue with concerned Deputy Commissioners and seek action against the violators.
 Committee has also expressed dissatisfaction against the way brick kilns are openly violating the norms and the failure of the Board to enforce the same.
 Referring to the records submitted by the officials, the report says that about 400 hundred brick kilns were operating in the State without formal sanction. “663 brick kilns are operating in the State out of which consent has been granted to 270, while closure orders were issued to 65 brick kilns and legal notices to 229 for violation of the norms. The fate of 99 such units has not been decided so far as their files are under process”, the report says while quoting the information furnished by the Board.
 The members however took strong notice about the Board’s failure in implementing the closure orders of kilns on the ground.
 The report also mentions that the Geology and Mining Department has given licenses to different parties to extract sand, stone, Bajri, Clay, Muck and Boulders at 119 mineral blocks against a fixed royalty.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST