State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) seems to have gone in deep slumber as the growth of illegal crusher units, mixing and macadam plants in and around the fragile forest and aquatic ecosystem in Bandipora has risen to an alarming level.
SPCB remained in dark till many agencies and individuals set up over half a dozen crusher units across the forest line in Bandipora.
Even few crusher units have been illegally installed in close proximity of the restricted aquatic habitat of trout streams.
Though the forest department had acted many a time against the agencies installing such machinery but the SPCB were caught napping.
We have never seen SPCB officer visiting these illegal mechanical units, even after we approached them several times, Abdul Majeed, a local environmental activist said.
He said how come mega crusher units come up in the forest and aquatic habitat despite the State having an organized Pollution Control Board, he said.
Locals while accusing SPCB of patronizing these illegal crusher owners told Kashmir POST that such a huge illegal growth of crushers and macadam units will not possible without the consent of SPCB.
“They (SPCB) are either losing the grip or are hand in glove with agencies, contractors or individuals who have illegally set up crusher units across the forest and aquatic environ in Bandipora, said Shabir Ahmad a local.
Official records say there are 10 crusher units, two missing plants and two macadam plants illegally installed either in forest area or around restricted aquatic habitat in Bandipora.
Most of the units were established in the last few years while many belonging to BRO are coming up without any official consent now.
Two big crusher units are managed by local contractors, one near restricted trout stream Madhumati, two heavy unit are installed by Hindustan Construction Company at Mantrigam and in Kishenganga river-a restrict area and rest by BRO in the forest area.
Pertinently, there are no instances that SPCB have so far closed any of these units besides all of these units are running illegally if government’s set guidelines are followed.
Bandipora is becoming a spot for the growth of crusher units as the raw material is readily available here.
SPCB should develop a mechanism so that such illegal growth if poisonous machinery may be stopped immediately, said Sayeed Ahmed, a Civil Society member.
Though the field officials representing SPCB in Bandipora admit that many crusher units are coming up illegally and department has issued notices to them but no concrete action has so far being witnessed on the part of the Board.
“Many units are coming up in the area, we have issued notices and are waiting for the reply, ”said Muhammad Yousuf, District Officer SPCB Bandipora.
However, locals say that what is the use of issuing notices when a unit has come up in violation of norms that too in the restricted area.
Meanwhile, Director SPCB Muhammad Shafi Kenu told Kashmir POST that action will be taken against all the unit holders who have set up the machinery in the restricted area.
“We will shoot legal notice to all,” Kenu said.
SPCB caught napping as illegal crusher units come up in Bandipora
