Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: Thirteen units were operating illegally and one unit was closed down in Sidhra area while 13 others including five stone crushers, have been granted ‘consent to operate’ by the State Pollution Control Board in the same area.
Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology, Mian Altaf while giving reply to the question of PDP member Murtaza Ahmed Khan in the Legislative Council today disclosed that SPCB has granted permission to operate 13 units in Sidhra, Ragoora and Majeen area. They included five stone crushers namely Khatana Stone Crusher Bajalta, Jupiter Stone Crusher Bajalta, Public Stone Crusher Bajalta, Harnam Tawi Stone Crusher Bajalta and Sharma Stone Crusher Majeen (Sidhra). The other units are M/s Tawi Road Builders, Mount View Guest House, New Jammu Satellite Printers, Trehan Automotive Pvt Ltd, M J Tamar Sports Industry, Nav Bharat Motors, Jan Sampark Printers and Shiv Shakti Batteries.
Mr Altaf admitted that 13 units were operating illegally in Sidhra area while one M/s Greenland Motors, Bye Pass Road Sidhra has been closed after initiating action by SPCB. The Pollution Control Board has initiated closure proceedings against 11 units while fresh notices have been served to the 2 units.
The units running illegally without NOC from the Board are: New Highway Automobiles Sidhra Bye Pass, Maya Motors Pvt Ltd, M/s Burger Restaurant & Fast Food near ASCOMS Sidhra Bye Pass, M/s Blue Bell Bakers, M/s A N Industries, M/s G S Engg Works, M/s Haider Services Station and Automobile Works, M/s Vishavkarma Engg Works, M/s Nitin Engg Co, M/s S T Fabricators, M/s Manhas Fabricators, M/s J J Atta Chakki and M/s Rattan Welding Industries.
Replying to another question, Altaf said the JMC has not granted any permission to business concerns / automobile workshops as the same are existing prior to inclusion of Sidhra area in JMC limits. However, JMC is contemplating to provide trade licenses to these units under the JMC Act, 2000. PDP member pointed out that for the last three years, JMC is only contemplating and how much time is needed to it to provide licenses. The Minister admitted delay in the process and assured the member early clearance again against illegal units from SPCB.
In response to another question of NC member Vijay Bakaya, the Forest Minister said 623 kanal and 10 marla Forest land was ordered to be transferred to JDA in 1998, for the construction of New Jammu township. Out of this land 517 kanal and 10 marlas land was handed over to JDA in June 2002 and remaining nearly 100 kanal land was ordered to be left for Social Forestry Nursery and Rest House and 6 kanals for the construction of Public Service Commission Office.
Altaf said the JDA has paid only Rs 11.34 lakh amount against the total amount of Rs 1621.38 lakh on account of cost of land, compensatory aforestation and social forestry plantation to Forest Department till date.
While responding to the question regarding fresh encroachment attempt of some people in Sidhra area on Forest/ Government land, the Minister said the title of the land was not yet clear. The Forest Department has taken up the issue with the Revenue authorities. The Revenue Department committee under DC Jammu has not given its report so far. He however, said that on the basis of rumour a large number of people started land encroachment in the area. However, JDA initiated action and cleared the land. In the process some old occupants were also disturbed and administration has taken up their case.
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