158 units found operating in violation of norms
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 6: The J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) granted Consent to Establish (CTE) to 72 new Stone Crushers and 19 Hot Mix plants in Jammu Division during the last five years while the department issued 461 Consent to Operate (CTO) to the functional units in this period from January 2021 to January 2026.
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This was informed by the Minister In-Charge, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Javed Rana in response to written questions by MLA Poonch, Ajaz Ahmad Jan during the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly on Friday.
The Minister also disclosed that as many as 158 Stone Crushers and Hot Mix plants were ordered to be closed by JKPCC during this period between January 1, 2021 and January 31, 2026 for operating in violation of environmental norms.
According to the data shared in the Assembly, Jammu district alone accounted for 67 CTOs for Stone Crushers, the highest in the region, followed by Kathua (60), Rajouri (43), Poonch (40), Doda (32), Kishtwar (26), Udhampur (27) and Ramban (17).
During this period, nine new Stone Crushers were granted permission to establish (CTE) in Jammu, 14 in Kathua, 11 in Kishtwar, 10 in Poonch, eight in Doda, seven in Rajouri, five in Reasi and four each in Udhampur and Ramban.
In the case of Hot Mix plants, Jammu district was granted 15 CTO, Kathua and Udhampur 14 each, Rajouri 17, Poonch 13 and Doda 13. During this period, four new Hot Mix plants were accorded permission to establish (CTE) in Samba, four in Rajouri, two in Kathua, and one each in Udhampur, Reasi, Poonch, Kishtwar and Ramban.
Pertinent to mention that Consent To Establish (CTE) is granted once for establishing a new unit while Consent To Operate (CTO) is accorded for renewal of the established unit from time to time.
In a significant disclosure, the Minister stated that environmental clearance under the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) Notification, 2006 is not required for establishing Stone Crushers. However, new units are granted Consent to Establish only after ensuring compliance with siting criteria and adequacy of Pollution Control Devices (PCDs) as prescribed under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, in line with directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court of India, he added.
Responding to another query on violations, the Government informed that directions were issued for closure of 158 Stone Crushers and Hot Mix plants between January 2021 and January 2026 for operating in contravention of prescribed norms. The closures were ordered after physical inspections and enforcement actions by the JKPCC under environmental laws .
In response to the question that distance certificates issued by the field officers do not match the actual ground position as substantiated from satellite maps, the Minister admitted that earlier, distance certificates vis-à-vis siting criteria were issued by field officers based on manual field verification, as modern tools like satellite imagery and GIS platforms were not widely available. However, he added, at present all distance certifications are cross-checked using GIS and remote sensing platforms.
The reply further stated that departmental enquiry is underway against two JKPCC employees for incorrect reporting, though no vigilance or criminal action has been initiated against any official in matters relating to Stone Crushers and Hot Mix plants so far.
On steps taken to protect river ecology, prevent pollution linked to illegal mining and ensure accountability within JKPCC under environment laws, the Minister informed the House that all riverbed mining projects in Jammu and Kashmir are regulated under the Environmental Clearance mechanism of the EIA Notification, 2006.
Projects under Category B1 (>5 hectares) require public consultation and submission of Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan (EIA/EMP), while Category B2 (<5 hectares) projects require prior EC based on EMP. In both the cases, Jammu and Kashmir Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (JKEIAA) prescribes project-specific conditions at the time of grant of clearance, which are legally enforceable.
The Minister also said that mining operations are required to follow Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, with additional safeguards such as water sprinkling in mining areas, covering of material during transportation and restriction of mining operations to daytime hours (8 AM to 6 PM).
As MLA Poonch sought assurance from the Government for closure of the units operating without permission and established norms, the Minister said that the department has already initiated inquiry into such complaints and several parties have approached the Supreme Court of India.
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