Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Aug 24: The Regional Officer and Member Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee has filed an affidavit to the National Green Tribunal that 134 brick kilns in three districts of Kashmir have started operating against the halt orders passed by the respondents.
The officer said that the administration is yet to recover environmental compensation of Rs 84. 8 lakh from 21 of its affiliated brick kilns in Jammu & Kashmir.
The newly impleaded respondents were served with notices in terms of the order of NGT made on May 21, 2024, and the JKPCC has filed an affidavit with NGT as per the timelines, after which a copy of the NGT’s order was provided.
The JKPCC has mobilised legal actions against the 21 violators and requested the Regional Director in Jammu to provide proper papers on the environmental compensation with reference to the specified brick kilns.
The compensation formats for brick kilns in the districts of Jammu and Samba were also directed by the Regional Director on 31/07/2024. These 21 violators received notices on the 3rd of August 2024 with directions that the respondents should respond in ten days.
But the offenders have not responded and as a result of the same, environmental compensation orders have been made against the offenders, the officer claimed.
The Regional Director of JKPCC at Kashmir said he came to avail of the present situation and said that 134 brick kilns in Budgam, Anantnag and Kulgam districts have again started the work which is against the NGT orders and JKPCC closure orders.
The JKPCC submitted the list of such illicit activities to the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir and District Collectors of the concerned districts to implement the orders of NGT in letter and spirit. This had been after the JKPCC had directed its regional and divisional officers to report the matter to the legal prosecution bodies under the Water and Air Pollution Acts.
The case so far has been that complaints have been made against 20 brick kilns and many more are under process. Environmental compensation will be recovered from the defaulting units in consideration of their level of offences.
