Alleging that district administration is hand in glove with mining mafia and thus not taking action against them, Advocate Nisar A Gattoo has appealed LG Manoj Sinha to get a transparent probe done and take action against the erring officers/officials. Addressing a press conference, Gatto said that he has been highlighting illegal running of more than 15 stone crushers in District Doda, right from Asser to Gandoh Bhalessa, particularly on the banks of River Chenab and more specifically on Doda- Babore road via Ghat where there is huge environmental degradation by illegal mining in broad day light by these stone crushers. “The illegal stone crushers are running without seeking any permission/requisite license from licensing authority Director Geology and Mining,” he said, adding, he filed a PIL on the issue in the High Court at Jammu wherein order was passed on 31-10-2018 to the Deputy Commissioner, Doda to verify the present status of the functioning of the stone crushers. He claimed that DC Doda pursuant to court orders filed an affidavit in the High Court wherein he has confirmed that 10 number of stone crushers are functioning illegally and have been closed/locked on spot and only two stone crushers i.e. M/s Aditya Stone Crusher, Village Jangalwar, Tehsil Thathri and M/s Neeru Stone Crusher, Village Bhella (Kahara), Tehsil Thathri have been found functioning as per norms. “It is unfortunate that six stone crushers were found functioning on the River Bed of Chenab on Pul Doda-Ghat Babore and the stone crushers are running during broad day light as on today despite filing of an affidavit in the High Court that the said stone crushers have been closed/locked”, he said. The owners/proprietors of the said stone crushers are highly influential personalities of Doda District and have their roots up to the office of the Deputy Commissioner Doda and the closure Locking is only on papers. Gattoo said that in response to original application No. 1047/2019 titled Nisar A Gattoo Vs UT J&K & Others Before Principal Bench National Green Tribunal (NGT) New Delhi Deputy Commissioner Doda even mislead NGT stating that 10 illegal stone crushers have been closed/locked when situation is otherwise on the ground.
