news details |
|
|
| BJP self-contradicts stand on 'polluting' cement factories | | n Likely to outsource JKCL to influential family | | Abdul Majid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 2: The BJP contradicted its stand on pollution caused by cement factories in Khrew by giving an impression that the JK Cements was being outsourced to an influential family. Curiously the family has violated all set norms ansd has wreaked havoc with the environment in the area.
Highly placed sources said the influential family, which already runs a number of cement plants, allegedly violating pollution control norms the most , has been eyeing on the JKCL since the previous Omer Abdullah regime.
"Though the deal couldn't be finalized during the previous regime when Omar Abdullah was close to them, they are likely to grab it now as some Ministers from the PDP are lobbying for this wealthy family before the BJP ministers," the sources said adding the business family hails from Srinagar.
It is believed to be for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that the government is planning to outsource a profit-earning Public Sector Undertaking amid mysterious developments of sorts.
On May 31, the main office of the JKCL was gutted in a mysterious fire at Nawai Subh complex Zero Bridge here even as the corporate Kashmir feels it was conspiracy to destroy relevant documents which highlighted the achievements of this venture and "how any attempt to outsource it would benefit the "vested interests."
"The fire at the JK cements office doesn't seem to be the outcome of an accident but a conspiracy aimed to destroy some credible documents where in officials categorically conveyed it to the government that outsourcing would be against the interests of the state," said an insider in the JKCL, asking not to be named.
He said as of now an artificial dearth of technical staff has been created at the cement factory to project it as a sick unit.
Observers suggest that the government should constitute a "fact-finding committee which would identify the factors responsible for taking this enterprise into red."
"It is being felt that once back on track, the JKCL can help a great deal to stabilize the exorbitant cement prices prevailing in the market," said a retired official who has worked with the JKCL.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, on the other hand, has already opposed the government plans. "JKCL is the largest state industrial undertaking. The enterprise would help to stabilize the demand of cement in the local market, its outsourcing will only benefit the influential family," the KCCI President Sheikh Ashiq said.
"It is unfortunate that the government is considering outsourcing of JKCL, which till recently was a profit earning PSU in JK," he added.
He said when the private cement factories in the state "are earning huge profits", there should be no reason that the JKCL should have faced losses.
Pertinently, the state government recently hinted that it was planning "outsourcing of JKCL in view of losses reported in the PSU."
Amid this all, the BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir recently issued an official statement saying that the party has taken a serious note of private cement factories spreading pollution. The BJP spokesman said "residents of Khrew and other areas are fed up of the pollution being spread by these factories and they are frequently hitting the streets against these units for putting their lives at stake."
Jehangir appealed the Forest and Environment Minister Bali Baghat to call a special team of environmentalists from New Delhi to check whether these factories are taking enough preventive measures or not.
The BJP spokesman however seems to have forgotten that the government plans to outsource the JKCL to a influential family whose private plants in Khrew area are already infamous for being most polluting for the environment. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
