Crackdown begins on stone crushing plants in Jamshoro

14 stone crushers asked to stop work due to lack of NOCs

HYDERABAD: Concerned by the environmental impacts and depletion of the natural resource, the district administration of Jamshoro claims to have embarked upon regularisation of stone crushing plants. The deputy commissioner, Captain (retd) Fariduddin Mustafa, told The Express Tribune that a crackdown was carried out in Lakhi Shah Saddar area in Manjhand taluka on Sunday.

He added that 14 stone crushers were asked to stop their work until they obtained official approval. "Almost all the crushers are operating illegally and without obtaining no-objection certificates from the government departments." According to him, they are required to obtain NOCs from up to 10 departments, including the district administration, mines and minerals department, wildlife department, environment department and labour department, among others.

A large expanse of the Kirthar Mountains are in Jamshoro. The district is a centre for crusher plants, which supply crushed stones to the construction and even irrigation sectors in most parts of Sindh.

"For the first time in the history of Jamshoro, indiscriminate action was carried out against the stone crushers," the DC claimed. He said the plants are causing a depletion of precious resources and that too without a legal authorisation. "Moreover, some companies have even established illegal petrol and diesel supply units."  The DC directed the police to ensure that the closed plants do not resume work without his permission.



An owner of one of the 14 crushing plants, which were asked to submit required documents to prove legality of their businesses within three days to the DC, complained of discriminatory action. "There are 80 to 100 crushing plants operating from Lunikot to Jamshoro but none have been asked to stop the work," he claimed.

Complaints about poor working conditions for the workers at the plants also often surface. The workers reportedly suffer from pulmonary problems, besides other illnesses, as workplace safety is not practised.