Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 12: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Government to file status report of decisions taken by it about illegal stone quarrying in forest and Kacharai land in the State.
A Division Bench of the court comprising of Justices Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Hasnain Masoodi passed the direction after examining the status report of Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce Department, in which he has stated that finalization of rules may take some time as approval of the Chief Minister is awaiting.
The Bench was hearing the PIL filed by Sofi Arif Maqbool seeking directions about the illegal stone quarrying going on in the forest demarcated and kacharai land across the State.
Following court directions, the status report said, that the Chief Secretary presided over a meeting of officials to decide the rehabilitation of the effected persons (whose quarries have been stopped), if any, who will be identified by the Geology and Mining Department in a time-bound manner.
“Further progress vis-à-vis decisions so taken shall be filed in the form of a status report on next date,” the Bench directed.
The report further said that the Government is considering to constitute a committee to be headed by the Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce Department, Commissioner/Secretary to Government Forest Department.
“The committee has also decided to identify alternate sites for stone quarrying which stands closed within the demarcated forest and Kacharai land preferably in the vicinity of the existing stone quarries within three months period,” the report informed the court.
The Deputy Commissioners also filed status reports about the quarrying activities in their jurisdictions.
The court pulled up the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, for filing affidavit which is not in conformity with the directions of the court. The court directed him to file fresh affidavit in consistent with the directions.
Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal in his status report stated the District Geology and Mining Officer has stopped the operation of quarries of 69 persons in the State land belonging to the Rakhs and Farms Department and supervisor concerned has been directed to keep strong vigil in the area, and checking squad has been constituted for monitoring the quarry activities closely that so that no one is allowed to violate the orders of the court.
Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, is his affidavit has stated that no stone quarry is in operation in the district except one which has been stopped with a fine of Rs. 28,800 by the Geology and Mining Department.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel