Violation of Environmental laws, Air Force guidelines: Farmers
Budgam- Several apple farmers in Rangeen Kultreh village of Chadoora district Budgam have alleged that some illegal brick kilns are being constructed in their village on agriculture / horticulture land which not only violates the environmental laws but is also clear violation of Airforce guidelines wherein no brick kiln can be set up around 8 kms aerial distance from airport area. The locals have appealed Chairman Pollution Control Committee, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and DC DC Budgam to intervene
Pertinently J&K Pollution Control Committee earlier gave its consent to set up two brick kilns namely Mughloo Brick Kiln and Rangeen Brick Kiln in Rangeen Kultreh village of Chadoora in Budgam. The said consent order was challenged in the High Court and notice was issued to Chairman PCC by the court.
The aggrieved apple farmers namely Abdul Gani Bhat and others had moved to High Court to seek judicial intervention against the order of the Member Secretary Pollution Control Committee who gave consent for the establishment of a brick kiln in favour of M/S Mughloo Brick Kiln and Rangeen Brick Kiln.
The petitioners Abdul Gani Bhat and others challenged the consent order dated 24.11.2022 before High Court saying that Pollution Control Committee District officer Budgam on 12th March 2022 had refused to issue the consent order and other departments had also raised their serious concern over this issue.
High Court Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal on March 2nd 2023 while hearing the case issued notices to the Member Secretary Pollution Control Committee , DC Budgam , District Officer Pollution Control Committee Budgam and Tehsildar Chadoora to explain their position.
“ We have been fighting the legal battle against issuance of consent order in favour of the two brick kilns and now a third one is also coming up and that too without any consent. This is a matter of grave concern. The Airforce station Srinagar has also shown their concern on this issue and have written a letter to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner Budgam. We hope they will act against these brick kilns soon. We also appeal Chairman PCC Dr Mohit Gera to act” said Abdul Gani Bhat the aggrieved apple grower who owns 30 kanals of apple farm near these proposed illegal kilns
Pertinently more than 1000 almond trees have been axed on the karewa land in Rangeen Kultreh in Budgam last year by some land owners who want to lease out their land for brick kilns as they claim that almond trees were not fetching them good revenue and brick kilns give them Rs 30,000 per year for a kanal of land
“ We fail to understand that when the Pollution Control Committee field staff of Budgam in March last year didn’t give NOC for brick kilns and wrote an adverse report which we have produced before the High Court, what prompted the Member Secretary to issue two consent orders, one within 9 months and another one after 15 months ? We have developed apple , plum and pear orchards in the area and we can’t allow this disaster to happen. There are already two dozen brick kilns in the area and more brick kilns will destroy only the environment but it will be a threat to air traffic also as the airport and air force base is located nearby which comes within 3 to 4 kms aerial distance “ Abdul Gani added
When contacted counsel for the petitioners Advocate M Ashraf Wani said that setting up of brick kilns in Rangeen Kultreh Chadoora is violation of High Court division bench order
“We will go for contempt proceedings as the court in an order has categorically said that no brick should be set up around 8 kms of the airport. Rangeen Kultreh is less than 5 kms aerial distance from the Srinagar airport” he said
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
