AJK top court bans all illegal stone-crushing plants

Only 54 stone-crushing plants have been permitted to continue operations in picturesque valley

MUZAFFARABAD:

In accordance with the instructions of Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram Khan of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court, the Department of Industries, Commerce, Labour and Mineral Resources has prohibited all illegal stone crushing plants throughout the picturesque valley with the aim of preserving the environment.

Only 54 stone-crushing plants have been permitted to continue operations following the order by the top court in AJK. 

The AJK chief justice had taken strict notice of illegal stone-crushing plants on Neelum Road and directed the department to allow only those plants that adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of stone-crushing in the region to continue operations.

The rigorous monitoring of the department, as directed by AJKSC CJ, is bearing fruit, and revenue of Rs72.8 million has been collected thus far from various stone-crushing plants that are operating in accordance with the department's SOPs.

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Secretary Industries and Minerals Wajahat Rashid, while sharing additional revenue details, stated that a monthly revenue of Rs5.5 million was collected from the owners of stone-crushing and limestone plants by strictly following the CJ's orders. This revenue will be increased with the passage of time, he said.

"Industries and Minerals Department is working tirelessly to ensure that all environmentally friendly SOPs are followed in all stone crushing and limestone areas, and in this regard, we will maintain zero tolerance. We will never compromise on the basic SOPs related to the environment, and the entire issue is under the close scrutiny of AJKSC. The significant collection of revenue from the stone crushing and limestone plants is a major accomplishment, and the credit goes to Chief Justice of AJKSC, who is personally overseeing environment-related issues," said Rashid.

He further added that illegal crushing and limestone plants were not only detrimental to the environment and natural beauty of the region, but they also harmed the health of the local residents in the area where these illegal plants existed. In addition to having a negative impact on people's health, illegal stone-crushing plants were also polluting the air in the region, he said.