Notices to Chief Secy, Hamirpur DC on adverse impact of stone crusher

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, September 6

The HP High Court today issued notices to the Chief Secretary, HP State Pollution Control Board, Deputy Commissioner of Hamirpur, SDM of Nadaun and the secretary of Jol Sapper gram panchayat on a letter petition alleging that a stone crusher at Jol Sapper in Hamirpur district was adversely affecting the environment and the ecology of the area.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed the orders on a letter by Dalip Singh addressed to the Chief Justice, taken up suo motu as a public interest litigation petition.

The petitioner stated that Ramesh Kumar had applied to Jol Sapper gram panchayat for a no-objection certificate (NOC) to set up a stone crusher and was issued the same without considering its adverse impact on the area. He alleged that besides the stone crusher, there was a water lifting project installed on the Kunah Khud, which is on the verge of closure as the water level was constantly going down.

He alleged that heavily loaded tippers were damaging link roads connecting the national highway constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana. Mining was going on at the depth of 30 to 40 feet in a ravine and the mining rules were being violated, but the officials concerned had never visited the area.

He alleged that a house near the ravine had been badly damaged due to deep pits dug in the valley and the entire village was in danger. He prayed to the Chief Justice to shut down the stone crusher immediately. While issuing notices, the court directed the state authorities to file their response.

Water level falls

The petitioner alleged that due to indiscriminate mining, the water level of hand pumps was also decreasing fast. Besides, the health of villagers and animals was getting affected. It stated that ailments such as asthma were on the rise in the area.