Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 12: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon today convened high level meeting with senior officers to discuss the issue related to enforcement of rates of bricks.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Budgam Khurshid Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Farooq Ahmed Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan, Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, Director CAPD Kashmir, Mir Mushtaq Ahmed, ADDC Pulwama, Mir Tariq Ahmed, Joint Director Industries, Bilal Ahmed, Joint Director, Geology & Mining, Nisar Ahmed and President, Brick Manufacturers Association, Malik Zahoor Lasjan and their office bearers.
Various issues were deliberated in view of the public resentment against illegal hike of rates of bricks. It was decided to test the various samples of bricks being manufactured in the Valley, to check for its size, strength and various specifications.
It was decided that a committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, comprising of Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag and Deputy Commissioner, Budgam would analyse the existing rates of bricks which had been fixed in November last year and consider enhancement on the basis of the escalation in coal prices since November, within a period of one week.
The additional charges for transportation would be applicable, which would be notified separately by Transport Commissioner. In the meantime, the brick kiln owners were asked to adhere to the rates already fixed by the Government or face strict action, as per law.
Div Com asked all Deputy Commissioners to encourage setting-up of manufacturing units for Hollow-cement blocks in their districts, so as to provide alternate to kiln bricks, as hollow-blocks are non-pollutant, earthquake resistant and cheaper. Any person having at least two kanals of non-agricultural land can apply for establishment of such units to the concerned Deputy Commissioner, for which bank finance will be made available and all necessary assistance and help will be given by the Industries Department as well as Deputy Commissioners for establishing cement hollow-block units. Preference would be given to unemployed youth.
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