Centre clears Rs. 100 crore WTP Unplanned quarrying major threat to environment: Dr Veeri SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 17:- Expressing concern over unabated quarrying in the Valley, Chairman, Environment Committee of Legislative Council, Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri has asked the concerned officers to take necessary steps for checking this practice immediately. This was stated by the Chairman while chairing a meeting of Environment Committee here today. Legislators, Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah, Abdul Majeed Bhat, Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce, Farooq Ahmad, Director Industries and Commerce, Javed Ahmad Khan, Managing Director, SIDCO, Mohammad Mozam besides senior Geologist from Geology and Mining Department were among present on the occasion. Dr Veeri said that unplanned quarrying has posed a major threat to the environment and asked concerned officers to mobilize their available human resources for containing this exercise. He asked them to take assistance of district administration where they feel necessary and send a clear message to those who are bent to imbalance the ecological balance in certain parts of the Valley. Dr Veeri said that unplanned and un-scientific quarrying has posed a major threat to the environment and asked concerned officers to mobilize their available human resources for stopping this exercise. He asked them to take assistance of district administration where they feel necessary and send a clear cut message to those who are bent to imbalance the ecological balance in certain parts of the Valley. “It is our responsibility to discourage those elements who are involved in defacing the natural beauty of our Valley” said the Chairman and called upon the participants to play their role in protecting environment and the mineral deposits available in the state. He said time has come to do something for saving natural resources of the State for posterity. Syed Rafiq Shah pointed towards environmental issues of Kupwara district and advocated identifying a specific place for excavation of sand and other material required for development works. He suggested framing of a joint committee to grant permission for lifting of building material from streams and rivers. He said the environmental concerns have not been taken into consideration while constructing Banni-Dagar road. Abdul Majeed while taking part in the discussion raised the issues of establishment of brick kilns on Srinagar-Qazigund National Highway and asked concerned authorities to look into the matter. He said brick kilns have been established on agriculture land and directed concerned to take necessary corrective measures in this direction. It was given out that district administration Kupwara has been asked to close all illegal quarry and stone crushers within one month. The meeting was told that 174 stone crushers are registered with the Government out of which only 162 have been granted permission while out of 110 brick kilns 90 have been given permission. The meeting was told that Industries Department in consultation with SIDCO has initiated to install Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) in all major industrial units of the State while the Centre has cleared Rs 100 cr project of setting up of Integrated Hazardous Medical and Electronic Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) at Industrial Growth Centre Samba. It was given out that an ETP, completed at a cost of Rs. 6 crore stands installed at Lassipora in Pulwama district.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 16:19:18 +0000