Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 24: High Court today banned operations of brick kilns in the vicinity of Srinagar Airport as the smoke emitting from these kilns hampers flight operations.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sindhu Sharma directed the authorities to ensure that no brick kiln is permitted to operate their furnace or undertake any activity whereby smoke is generated in any manner within 8 kilometers from the centre of the runway of the airport.
It may be mentioned here that early this month the flight operations were badly affected at Srinagar Airport due to dense fog with visibility falling below 500 meters. For one week no flight landed or took off from the airport due to dense fog this month. The weatherman blamed the brick kilns for the foggy condition in Srinagar and Budgam.
However, court clarified that the brick kilns may undertake such other activities as necessary for their business other than the smoke generated activities.
Court has also directed the authorities to take immediate action to ensure that no unregistered brick kiln owners are permitted to undertake any kind of activity.
With regard to rehabilitation and consideration for compensation for those whose kilns have been closed down, court added, it is necessary for the Government to take a view in this matter and ensure that the matter is examined at the highest level and report be filed before the court on next date.
Advocate Anil Bhan representing the Airport Authority of India stated before the court that no prejudice would be caused and no hindrance for flying operations from the airport if the brick klin owners are permitted to procure the raw materials and carry out all other functions other than running the furnace or undertaking any action which generates the smoke.
Advocate Ateeb Kanth submitted that complete prohibition imposed on the brick klin to operate by its earlier order is concerned, the same is causing grave hardships to the owners. He submitted that the objections to the working or the owners of these brick kiln near the airport is premised on account of smoke which is generated by the running of the furnaces.
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