Non-compliance: Closure notices issued to 114 stone crushers, brick kilns

Pulwama, Nov 28: Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has issued closure notices to 114 industrial units, including stone crushers and brick kilns, in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district for failing to comply with norms.
Divisional Officer (DO) JKPCC Pulwama, Bilal Ahmad Khan, told Rising Kashmir that the closure orders were served to the unit holders for non-compliance with S.O. 60 and failure to install required pollution control devices (PCDs).
He said that S. O. 60 concerns with the title of the land.
“Many unit holders didn’t submit valid documents,” he said, adding that the unit holders were denied NOC’s from his office because of these deficiencies.
The officer said that the unit owners had been previously sensitized about the formalities necessary to obtain consent to operate.
Despite repeated notices, these units failed to adhere to the guidelines.
“Ultimately, we were compelled to issue closure notices,” he said, “The closure file has been submitted to higher authorities for approval, and I am confident that appropriate legal action will follow.”
He said that they have also brought the issue into the notice of the district administration and were expecting appropriate action from them.
In addition to the closure, the JKPCC has imposed environmental compensation levies on the defaulting units for polluting the environment. The levies are calculated for the entire period the units operated without obtaining the required consent.
“Each unit may face fines of up to ₹20 lakh, depending on the duration of their unauthorized operations,” he said.
The industrial units facing closure notices are located in areas such as Wuyan, Khadermoh, Achan, Litter, Oukhoo, and Lethpora besides Lassipora.