Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: The Committee on Environment (EC) of Legislative Assembly today visited various industrial units in Samba industrial estate to get an on the spot feedback about the impact of industrial activities on environment and other allied matters.
Headed by MLA, M. Y. Tarigami, the committee directed the management of these companies for paying special attention towards health checkups of the employees and labourers. He asked them to give priority to the locals in providing employment. He also asked the District Development Commissioner, Samba to monitor these units for compliance of guidelines issued from time to time.
The Committee expressed serious concern over the impact of hazardous waste on environment and called for long term measures for a common facility for dumping of waste material. The panel asked the officers of Industries Department to submit a detailed compliance report in this regard.
Legislators, Yash Paul Kundal, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani, Advocate Abdul Haq, Charanjit Singh, Krishen Chander Bhagat, Peer Aafaq Ahmad, Prof. Gharu Ram Bhagat and Abdul Razak Wagay gave their suggestions in making these units more beneficial and eco friendly.
During the tour, the Committee members also interacted with the employees and labourers of the companies and enquired about the facilities kept available by the unit holders for them.
On the recommendations of the Committee, the Chairman and Managing Director of M/s Saraswati Agro Chemical Industry, Bari Brahmana S. K. Bansal announced 10 per cent increase in wages in favour of their employees both skilled, unskilled and labourers immediately. He said this will be in addition to the normal enhancement in annual wages.
Earlier, the District Development Commissioner, Samba Mubarak Singh briefed the Committee members at a meeting held at district headquarters about various steps taken by the district administration for the protection of environment.
Commissioner/Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Shantmanu, Chief Wild Life Warden A. K. Singh, Director Industries, Jammu Gulzar Ahmad Queshi, Chairman PCB Lal Chand, Director Environment and Remote Sensing, Suresh Chug, Regional Director PCB Liaqat Ahmad Dar and other officers from Industries and PCB Departments besides senior officers from Assembly Secretariat accompanied the Committee during their visit.