Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 23: Two stone crushers in Nowshera Sub-Division of Rajouri district may be shut in view of a report of expert committee constituted by District Administration Rajouri.
The committee comprised of Executive Magistrate Nowshera, Executive Engineer PHE, District Mining Officer and Executive Engineer I&FC after jointly visiting M/s Santa Stone Crusher (Hot Mix Plant) and M/s Jai Bharat Stone Crusher, at Bagnoti Nalllah Nowshera made observations which may compell authorities to order closure of both the crushers.
Authorities have taken immediate cognizance of the report against the defaulting proprietors of both the crushers. The Additional Deputy Commissioner has served notice to the proprietors to take immediate corrective measure or face closure.
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer PMGSY has been directed by the DM to visit local roads and assess damages caused by heavy duty carriers and submit report. The public of the area have accused the two crushers of not following prescribed norms and the heavy duty carriers are destroying and damaging the newly constructed roads.
The committee after spot inspection found that at both the crushers, dumping of raw and finished material is being done on State land and Shamlat Deh. Moreover, a Shamshan Ghat also exists in 250 meters vicinity of the dumping site.
Due to illegal excavation of the river bed material near three dug wells on either sides of the river bank, the dug wells have dried up due to change of river course affected by indiscriminate extraction of RB material, the committee observed.
On physical inspection of the surrounding area, it was observed that both the crushers were extracting river bed material beyond permissible limits prescribed by the Geology and Mining Department Rajouri. The M/s Santa Stone Crusher has lifted river bed material by tempering the stability of the river bank by using mechanical means.
The people of the area also reported health problems due to continuous noise pollution and dust allergies with related diseases.
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