||SHAMIM NAIKOO
With the world giving rapt keening attention to the alarming environmental pollution, the Jammu and Kashmir is apparently worst hit in environmental degradation with stone crushing units operating illegally while enjoying official patronage. There are reports about the government’s inaction over putting lid over the measures being taken by the factories which contribute majorly in degrading the environment. Till date, there has been no action taken against those who have been violating the norms sans any remorse and those who have cared little about the rules formulated by the state authorities over protecting the environment. Hundreds of stone crushing units in the state are breaching measures mandatory for minimizing pollution levels which in fact is a brazen violation of rules governing environmental protection in Jammu and Kashmir.
Floating norms with impunity for years, the state’s environmental watchdog has been watching like a mute spectator over the violations being done in open by these units. Dust rising from the crushers has been found to be causing an abnormal incidence of renal failure, throat ailments and other infections in areas situated in their vicinity. It also has an adverse impact on cattle and crops. According to the official documents out of over six hundred registered stone crushing units in JK, more than 400 operate in the Kashmir region. As per SPCB norms, three rows of trees should encircle every stone crusher to reduce the impact of dust emission. But not a single tree had been planted at most such units anywhere in the state, especially in the Jammu region. An alarmingly high number of units have not been issued NOCs (No Objection Certificates) by authorities and departments most likely to be impacted by their pollution, for example, the departments of education, animal and sheep husbandry, rural development, PCB, PHE, agriculture, horticulture and forests, in addition to the managements of private schools. In some cases, fake NOCs have been managed as most crusher-owners have strong political links. Not only do they run their units illegally, they do not pay their electricity bills as well.
An alarmingly high number of units have not been issued NOCs (No Objection Certificates) by authorities and departments most likely to be impacted by their pollution, for example, the departments of education, animal and sheep husbandry, rural development, PCB, PHE, agriculture, horticulture and forests, in addition to the managements of private schools.
The functioning of these units every day after is proving as a serious health hazard for population of Jammu and Kashmir. But there seems no priority of the government in sight that could have ensured that human life and health is of the primary concern of the government. Reports informed that with these stone crushing units having strong political links the obtaining of the NOC has become an easy process. Sources said that while most of these units operate while undermining the laid down procedure, the action against them continues to remain a distant dream. The people living in the vicinity of these units have for several times asked the state authorities to take action against those stone crushing units who are found violating the law but the delay in action has virtually become a norm. People have complained of developing serious health issues due to the functioning of the units but their lamentations are till date unheard and unattended.
