Heavy penalty on brick kiln owners
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 25: Thirty-one tractors of brick kiln operators were seized today after they were caught ferrying illegally transported 200 non-local labourers in Srinagar.
The labourers were found hidden in tractors of three brick kiln operators based in a Budgam district.
The labourers were trying to escape COVID-19 testing required as per protocol were caught in Srinagar’s Pantha Chowk area where District Magistrate Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, has placed mechanism in place to ensure that all those entering Srinagar are tested before being allowed in.
The DC ordered on-spot instructions for strict legal action against offenders. He directed seizing of all 31 tractors and imposed a fine of over Rs 3 lakh on the operators.
The labourers coming into Kashmir are stopped in Srinagar’s Pantha Chowk area and tested for COVID-19 and quarantined till the outcome of sample reports.
Dr Shahid passed directions for charging costs of COVID-19 testing of labourers brought in these tractors and that of their food, accommodation and quarantine charges. The owners of the brick kilns have been identified as Syed Manzoor, Ghulam Mohammad Mandoo and Abrar Wani, all from Budgam district.
The DC said it is unfortunate that while Kashmir is reeling under the wrath of the COVID-19, some people are adding to the problem rather than helping to contain the spread of this dangerous infection.
And DC Budgam today directed police to seal a brick kiln and register a case against its owner for violating the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for containment of COVID-19.
The District Magistrate Budgam has also directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Budgam to impose a fine of Rs 50,000 on the owner for violating SOP.
District Magistrate Budgam Shahbaz Mirza in an order said that ARTO Budgam has reported that one Brick Kiln owner Ali Mohammad (Brick Kiln No. 55 H) at Nassarullahpora has violated the SOP for containment of COVID-19 in the district. “The Sr. Superintendent of Police, Budgam has been requested to lodge FIR against the said Brick Kiln in concerned Police Station, as the violation of SOP for containment of COVID-19 has put the general public at risk.”
“Therefore, in view of present scenario of COVID-19 in the District it is hereby ordered that brick kiln be closed immediately under the provision of Disaster Management Act, 2005. Besides, a penalty of Rs. 50,000 (Rupees fifty thousand) is also imposed on the owner of the brick kiln,” order further read.
Follow our WhatsApp channel