31 Owned by Politicians, Bureaucrats or Associates: Govt Tells Assembly
Srinagar/Jammu: Ishfaq Gowhar
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has informed the Legislative Assembly that 48 stone crusher units have been closed or sealed across nine districts of the Union Territory for violations, while 31 crusher units are owned directly or indirectly by politicians, bureaucrats and their close associates or relatives.
In a written reply tabled in the House, the government said the sealing of crusher units was carried out by the District Administrations, Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) and in some cases under orders of the Hon’ble Courts, as part of ongoing action against environmental violations and regulatory non-compliance.
Providing district-wise details, the government stated that Pulwama district accounts for the highest number of sealed units at 28, followed by Poonch with 7 units and Reasi with 4 units. Two crusher units each have been sealed in Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur, while one unit each has been closed in Kishtwar, Rajouri and Kupwara, taking the total to 48 sealed units across the Union Territory.
However, the government clarified that none of these sealed crusher units is presently involved in illegal mining activities, despite being closed. “As reported, there is no crusher unit among those sealed that is indulging in illegal mining activities in a sealed state,” the reply said, rejecting allegations of continued illegal operations.
On the sensitive issue of ownership, the government disclosed that 31 stone crusher units in Jammu and Kashmir are owned, directly or indirectly, by politicians, bureaucrats and their close associates or relatives. The district-wise breakup shows that Jammu district has the highest number with 8 such units, followed by Kathua with 6, Udhampur with 4, Poonch with 4, and Reasi with 3. One crusher unit each is owned by such individuals in Samba, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Ramban, Ganderbal and Kupwara.
The government said that detailed particulars of the owners, locations and operational status of these crusher units have been provided in Annexure “B”, while the names of owners of the sealed units are listed in Annexure “A” of the reply.
The disclosure has once again brought the spotlight on regulation of mining and stone crushing activities in Jammu and Kashmir, an issue often linked with environmental degradation, riverbed mining and alleged conflict of interest.
The government reiterated that enforcement agencies continue to monitor crusher units closely to ensure strict compliance with environmental norms, mining laws and court directions, and maintained that action will be taken wherever violations are detected.
