Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 21: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer on Saturday reviewed the regulation of brick kilns operating in the districts of Jammu division here at a meeting with concerned officers.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Udhmapur, Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Director Geology Mining, Additional Commissioner State Taxes, RTO Jammu, Joint Director Agriculture, officers of Pollution Control Board, Assistant Commissioner Central, while all other Deputy Commissioners of Jammu division districts attended the meeting through video conferencing. Representatives of Brick Kiln Owners Association and other concerned were also present in the meeting.
Threadbare discussion was held on various issues and the Div Com inquired from the Deputy Commissioners about the total number of brick Kilns operating in their respective districts, how many of these have applied for the renewal, status of rate revisions, how many have consent to operate (permissions), Royalty and other related issues.
Taking strong note of low renewal in some districts, the Div Com instructed the DCs to ensure that all the brick kilns are renewed as per the mandate of Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns (Regulation) Act, 2010. He also urged association members to apply for the renewal to run their Brick Kilns as per set norms.
He also instructed the DCs to hold a meeting with concerned departments and stakeholders and resolve issues like expeditious renewal and compliance of required NOCs.
The Div Com directed the DCs to ensure that no brick kiln located in their respective districts will be allowed to continue operations without completing all requisite NOCs/ norms according to the Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns (Regulation) Act, 2010. He instructed all the concerned departments, particularly Geology and Mining, Pollution control Board, Revenue and Agriculture to minutely re-verify the authentication of documents/licenses as well as the feasibility of the kilns.
While responding to the issues raised by the Associations regarding lack of checks on trucks carrying bricks from other states like Punjab (overloading, without GST Bill, Fake bills etc), the Div Com directed the DCs to constitute enforcement committees comprising of officers from State Taxes Department, Police, Geology & Mining, and Transport to ensure that there is no case of overloading, violation of Act.
Similarly, the committee to check implementation of Brick Kilns (Regulation) Act, 2010 and to furnish the detailed inspection report of all brick kilns, mentioning whether they are operating as per envisaged parameters and abiding by the norms.
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