Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has issued closure notices to 114 stone crushers and 15 brick kilns in Pulwama district for operating without the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and departmental consent.
According to official data, out of 135 stone crushers and 27 brick kilns in the district, 114 stone crushers and 15 brick kilns are operating without the required NOCs, prompting action from the Pollution Control Board. This lack of documentation is raising concerns about the environmental impact in the region.
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In Pulwama, 135 stone crushers are currently operational, with 15 in Achan Lassipora, 20 in Khadermouh, and 70 in Wuyan and Khrew areas. A significant number of these crushers lack the necessary NOCs. Additionally, 27 brick kilns are functioning across the district, 15 of which are unauthorized.
As per the figures, only 15 out of the 135 stone crushers have the proper NOCs and documents, while six others have applied for the necessary paperwork. The remaining crushers are operating illegally. Of the 27 brick kilns, only seven have the required NOCs, and five others are in the process of obtaining them. The rest are operating without authorization.
Bilal Ahmad Khan, Divisional Officer (DO) of JKPCC Pulwama, said that closure notices have already been issued to the violators. “We have issued closure notices to 114 of the 135 stone crushers and sent them for approval to higher authorities,” he said. Regarding the remaining crushers, 15 are compliant, and six have applied for NOCs. Khan also stated that 15 of the 27 brick kilns have received closure orders along with environmental compensation, the amount of which will be finalized in a meeting on January 13.
Legal action has been initiated, with cases filed against the violators at the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Pulwama. The department is awaiting approval from higher authorities for final closure orders and compensation. “Strict action will be taken against those operating without proper documentation,” Khan emphasized.
Additionally, the department has issued notices to four cement factories in the district. “One of these factories has responded by planting 500 trees. We plan to plant 3,000 saplings in the area,” Khan added.
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