Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 31: High Court has sought a report from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) on running of stone crushers and macadamizing plants causing hazard to the environment of far-flung area of Gurez in North Kashmir’s Bandipora area.
Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Javed Iqbal Wani said the petitioners in the public interest litigation appears to be concerned about the environmental hazards and wants that stone crushers and macadam plants under construction be stopped so as to preserve the environment. DB in this regard has directed the Regional Director, Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Board to submit a report with regard to the stone crushers or the macadam plants which may be causing environmental hazards.
Petitioners submit before the Division Bench that they are aggrieved of in action and failure to discharge statutory duties by official against those who are raising illegal and un-authorized construction of Stone Crushers and macadam Plants at Eco-Fragile area at Gurez Bandipora, which have wreaked havoc to the eco system and has also caused disastrous impact upon local floura and fauna.
Further function of Stone Crusher and macadam Plant they added, has caused disastrous impact upon soil and vegetation which has turned the land barren. Pertinently the valley of Gurez is famous for its landscape and beautiful picturesque scenery and tourists across length and breadth of world came here during summer at this place and the local area is indigenous for specified and unique herbal and botanical plants.