| Stone crushers running in violation of HC order | | Five months on, Flood Control deptt Kathua fails to adhere to HC directions | | G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 11: Inspite of explicit directions by High Court for removal of all encroachments within 200 meters of embankments of all rivers and tributaries, following devastating floods in Kashmir valley, the Flood Control Department Kathua has failed to take action against more than two dozen stone crushers, which have been operating in total violation of order in district Kathua.
Sources informed Early Times that several stone crushers installed on the banks of several rivers and rivulets in district Kathua have openly been dumping the crushed material in the rivers, virtually restricting the free flow of water.
A stone crusher established few meters downward of Magger Khad bridge near Lakhanpur, and another in Chadwal khad, few in Tarnah and Sahar Khad and Ujj river have been running, flouting the directions of HC, sources said.
"Large heaps of crushed material can be found dumped in the mid of Maggar Khad river, Tarnah river, Chadwal river which is also visible from bridges over Jammu Pathankot national highway", sources said, adding that even large stretches of river banks and their beds have been encroached upon by the crushers owner and even concrete structures were also come up in the river bed but to utter surprise of common masses, authorities concerned were in deep slumber.
Sources further divulged that few of the Crushing units were also in the river bed rather than land and the crushers' owner have encroached upon nearly half of river bed but the Flood Control department and District Administration Kathua in last few years, has virtually turned a Nelson’s eye towards the violations.
Moreover, the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Act 2010 also restricted the encroachment of river banks but that Act is also violated by more than two dozen stone crushers.
"Due to dumping of crushed material in the river and following construction of pacca structures, the flow of rivers have been diverted, thus the river has been eating away fertile land of farmers, whose land is on the other bank of river", sources said.
Some people of adjoining villages informed that due to dumping of crushed material in the river, water during floods caused massive damage to agriculture fields of opposite side. "We repeatedly requested to the concerned departments but every time the department took side of crusher owner, due to some unknown reasons and ignored our voice", he said, adding that few years back, a stone crusher installed just few meters upwards the Sahar Khan was closed down by authorities.
That crusher was also on the river bed but there are many other stone crushers which have been operating from river beds and have been dumping crushed material but administration has become a mute spectator, a contractor of Kathua said, adding that the attitude of former Deputy Commissioner was also discriminatory towards a single crusher owner, but had failed to initiate action against all the stone crushers, which have been operating in violation of norms.
He further said that even the directions of HC, in the backdrop of devastating floods in Kashmir valley have failed to make any difference in the attitude of district administration Kathua.
Executive Engineer of Flood Control department Kathua Jagdish Kumar when contacted said that few days back, the Deputy Commissioner Kathua had sent a communiqué, and had sought details of crushers, established within 500 meters of river bridges. "We have submitted the names of the all the crushers found within 500 meters from the bridge", he said, adding that he would personally visit the sites and take action.
Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control department, Hemchander Jerath said that the HC order was being implemented in Jammu region as well. "As you have apprised me about the matter, I will soon call my officers and ask them to take action", he assured. |
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