Exclusive Ground Report
By Makepeace
Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has issued a show cause notice to a naib sarpanch of Panchyat Nalla, Sunderbani of district Rajouri, for reportedly running an ‘illegal’ flour mill without seeking No Objection Certificate from the committee.
As per order No PCC/RDJ/2022/Compt/22/543-45, dated 27-05-2022 JKPCC has stated that no unit can be established or run without the consent of the Committee as envisaged under section 25/26 and section 21 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, respectively.
“Every unit is also under statutory obligation to meet the prescribed standards of emission/effluents by installing requisite pollution control devices,” reads the legal notice, adding “On recent inspection of your unit conducted by Divisional office, Rajouri, it has been observed that you are operating your unit without seeking consent to establish/operate from J&K PCC.”
It adds the activity of flour mill/Atta Chakki covered under UCM and falls under Green Category at S No 20. “Operation of your unit with this status is a flagrant violation of the above mentioned laws and is also punishable under section 15 of Environment Protection Act 1986, which states whosoever fails to comply with or contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made or order or directions issued there under, shall be punishable with imprisonment for up to five years or with fine up to five lakh Rupees or with both,” reads the legal notice, adding, “The Committee proposes to initiate legal action against you, including closure of the premises/unit.”
According to sources, a powerful naib sarpanch in panchayat Nala of tehsil Sunderbani has established a flour mill by throwing rules and regulations to winds. “He managed to get NOC from incompetent authorities, which were later on cancelled by the competent authorities, but despite having no relevant documents, this powerful naib sarpanch continues to run his illegal flour mill,” said sources, adding that the flour mill is established near school and veterinary hospital.
As per orders of the Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri nobody can erect a flour mill within stipulated distance from any government building. “Deputy Commissioner had ordered that no flour mill shall be established within a distance of 200 meters from government building, whereas in present case, this flour mill of naib sarpanch is established just 70 meters from veterinary hospital and 90 meters from school building,” said sources, adding that the NOC earlier issued by headmaster and another incompetent authority of hospitals were eventually cancelled by the competent authorities. Sources maintained that although he got the license by fraud by submitting fake documents, he still has no objection certificate from the pollution control committee and validity of his license has also expired. Meanwhile, sources said that Tehsildar and Assistant Deputy Commissioner Sunderbani are lenient towards the owner of this floor mill that is why he is daring to flout the laws. “Even court had directed the administration to take notice of the agitating locals in case of establishment of a flour mill, but administration disobeyed the orders,” said sources, adding that local patwari has already submitted his report, which is against the naib sarpanch. Locals demanded that the ACB should register an FIR against such officers, who have issued license to this influential naib sarpanch, despite the fact that he flouted all the norms and regulations.
