Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 24: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon has summoned Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar following ‘inaction’ in shifting a battery manufacturing unit from Court Road locality in Lal Chowk area.
Dr Samoon has asked Commissioner SMC, Dr Ghulam Nabi Qasba and Additional DC, Srinagar, Nazim Khan to be present in his court on April 3 and present their view point in the case. Nazim has also been asked to submit action taken report in the case which has been pending for the last eight months.
Acting on the representation of Noora Begum, wife of late Mohammad Rajab Khan, resident of Court Road, Srinagar, Dr Samoon issued order DIV. Com/Reader/1870-71 dated 21-02-2013 asking both Dr. Qasba and Nazim to be present in his court on April 3. The order has been shot off to both the officers on the same date and they are expected to present their position as to why no action has been taken against the owner of the battery manufacturing unit.
Noora Begum had registered a complaint with Chairman Pollution Control Board against Delco Batteries, Court Road, Lal Chowk. In the complaint, Noora Begum said that the proprietor is involved in the manufacturing of batteries and this may lead to an accident in the area.
Acting on the complaint, Regional Director Kashmir, State Pollution Control Board issued a legal notice to Mohammad Aslam Arder and Mohammad Hanief Arder, Proprietors of Delco Batteries and K. S Delite Hotel.
However, the SPCB authorities changed their heart and issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the owner of battery manufacturing unit saying that the batteries are only assembled and not manufactured at Court Road. But the SPCB authorities did not provide a copy of NOC to the complainant since she had raised some points about the operation of the unit in the area.
It is worthwhile to mention here that on 31-12-2012 the SMC Commissioner ordered the Chief Enforcement Officer of the Corporation to immediately close down the battery unit saying that such a unit cannot operate in the congested area of Amira Kadal. Such a direction was also given on 26-11-2012 but no action has been taken in the case so far.
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