SCOA condemns Govt for ban on mining

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Stone Crusher Owners Association (SCOA) has strongly condemned the dictatorial attitude of the Jammu and Kashmir Government to put blanket ban on all sort of mining in the State.
A press communiqué issued here said that a meeting of the association was convened today under the chairmanship of Ch Vikram Randhawa, president, wherein, all the members of the Stone Crusher Industry vociferously condemned the attitude of the State Government and Department of Geology and Mining which has again started harassing the unit holders by implementing SRO-105 which bans all sort of mining.
Pertinent to mention here that the controversial SRO was issued during Governor Rule in the State after the death of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and was stayed by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and later during deliberations with the Government, a breathing period of three months was given to this industry with the assurance that the Government will make necessary arrangements in meantime and further assured the SCOA that their business will not hamper in future.
SCOA said that as the breathing period ended on July 31, 2016, the Geology and Mining Department has again started harassing those connected with the mining business. Randhawa said that it is the responsibility of the Government to either extend the breathing period or it should had made required arrangements before July 31.
SCOA unanimously decided not to succumb to the pressure of the Government and in one voice decided to unitedly fight against the goons of the Geology and Mining Department.
Randhawa while addressing the meet, said that there is no official order from the Government to put blanket ban again on mining and the bureaucratic activism of the Geology and Mining Department will not be tolerated.
He urged all the unit holders to support all those concerned with the business and give a befitting reply to the Government by not shutting down units.
Those who attended the meeting, include Gian Chand Sharma, Anil Gaind, Dev Choudhary, Uttam Singh, K.K.Phakri, Charan Choudhary, Sonam Deep Singh, Beli Ram Soodan, Mahesh Sharma and others.