Illegal stone-crushing smothers thousands villagers in Bandipora
Fail to undertake pollution control measures
All the HCC crusher units are operating in violation creating doubts among the local population which is up in arms against the agency,
Report by Kashmir Scenario
Bandipora: Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) is destroying the environment & natural resources of Bandipora unabatedly without any check from the higher authorities. In this regard, the “Kashmir Scenario†has learnt a series of startling disclosures with reference to this grim veracity.
Pertinently, the level of solid macro particles (SMP) is growing in the environment and posing a serious threat to public health in dozens of villages here in the North Kashmir’s Bandipora District, as Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) executing 330 Megawatt Kishen’ Ganaga Hydro Electric Power Project and in this regard has set up a huge crusher unit in violation of rule and regulations. However, the environmental watchdog, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB), and allied departments are watching like a mute spectator are lacking in will to crack the whip against Hindustan Construction Company-HCC- the owner of stone-crushing unit, which has vandalized the environment and ecology in the area.
SPCB officials, as well as the district administration, have been in the complete knowhow of the fact that HCC crushers don’t even have licenses and are being run without the No Objection Certificates (NOC) from several concerned departments like Forest, Fisheries, Geology & mining and Industrial departments, according to residents.
An environmentalist preferring anonymity alleged that HCC management have strong political links and are also hand in glove with the authorities. “Huge amount of money is involved in entire trade so government as well the enforcement authorities have shut their eyes to these blatant violations since last one year†he alleged.
Official sources told that the District Head of the Industries Department shot about four letters to HCC management asking them to produce the NOC’s of several departments to get the crusher unit registered, however HCC has failed to produce any and is even trying lot to cool down the Industries officer, besides presenting offers to him, sources said.
The letters expose how activities of HCC were going on illegally under the very nose of the authorities causing pollution and destroying the forest cover despite the public outcry. The letters also re-established the suspicion of official patronage being provided to HCC operations in the name of project construction.
Reliable sources revealed that the forest department has intimated government and its Legislative Environment Committee about the illegal existence of HCC crusher within the demarcated forest zones, department has intimated the government that the crusher should immediately stopped if not found environmental friendly. Besides this all the HCC crusher units are operating in violation creating doubts among the local population which is up in arms against the agency,
In blatant violation of rules governing environmental protection in Jammu and Kashmir, HCC crusher units in the area are not undertaking the measures to minimize the pollution levels. . “Being a red category industry, the pollution control norms for the stone crusher are being violated with impunity? As per SPCB norms, there should be three rows of trees encircling the stone crusher for reducing the impact of dust emission. But not a single tree has been planted around the crusherâ€, sources said.
“The dust also adversely affects visibility, reduces growth of vegetation and hampers aesthetic sight of the area. It can also cause lung cancer and several other ailments after entering into a human body†locals added.
Recently, Deputy Commissioner Banidpora Manzoor Ahmed Lone halted work on the project after locals complained of the massive pollution of water resources due to the mismanagement in HCC’s execution of the project work. Earlier locals were complaining that the HCC management while violating the rules are draining the muck, residue and crusher ruminants into the nearby water resources, which was then conformed by the state premier Laboratory in National Institute of Technology where the water samples were found highly toxic due to the HCC pollution. The Lab report of water samples declared that the pollution in the nearby water resources has increased three fold after the HCC started draining wastage, crusher residue and other garbage into the water resources.
State government in particular and SPCB in general is facing public ire for being unresponsive to public health hazards. A resident of Kralpora says breathing fresh air is impossible due to the dust in the area, with so many stone crushers are operating illegally here. Despite several complaints, the pollution control authority is yet to take action against them.
“The connivance run deep or else how could such a huge crusher plant can operate here around lush green forests?†asks another resident, who has been diagnosed with lung disease.
“The public perception is gaining ground that the government including SPCB is reluctant in calming down for it is being faced several pulls and pressures besides some favour exchanging hands†locals said. The department has served notice to several of them in these two districts but the crushing is going unabated.
Locals in the area said “The concerned Ministries and departments are aware that the illegal crusher unit set up by HCC run on a regular basisâ€.
Certainly, HCC is destroying the once serene atmosphere of Bandipora with Impunity.
