Stone crusher-owners resent govt order

Apprehending disconnection of power supply, a delegation of members of the Zirakpur Stone Crushers’ Association, led by its president Randip Singh met the Punjab Finance Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh last week seeking his help in creating separate focal points for the resettlement of units.

It may be recalled that in December 1996, the power supply to these units was disconnected which was restored in January on the basis of no objection certificates issued by the Punjab Pollution Control Board after short-comings in pollution norms were found removed.

As per the parameters fixed by the government, the new stone crushers will be installed and operated at 500 metres from the state and national highways in plain areas, 250 metre in sub-mountaneous areas, 5 km from municipal limits, 500 metres from village Phirni and approved colonies, 300 metres from historical places and wildlife sanctuaries or protected monuments, 100 metres from link roads and 300 metres from major district roads. Besides, the stone crushers should not cover more than 0.4 hectare.

The government has also fixed code of practice for the prevention of the pollution and subsequently, it was made mandatory for stone crushers to have regular health check-up of workers, besides cleaning and spraying water on the approach road.

While issuing notification, government has asked stone crushers to strictly follow pollution norms. Directing area police station incharge to intimate the stone crusher owners about government decision, the Punjab Principal Secretary said: "The stone crushers which are not conforming to parameters shall shift to sites conforming to the fresh parameters fixed by government by June 12."

Presently, more than 150 stone crushers are being run in Pathankot, Ghanaoli in Ropar, and Mubarikpur and Zirakpur in Patiala district. The stone crushers’ owners are at the receiving end as most of the units are lying within 500 metres on both sides of Zirakpur-Kalka highway.

Talking to Chandigarh Newsline, spokesman for the association Krishan Kant said that instead of solving the problems of stone crushers, the government was trying to complicate the issue.

He, however, urged government to demarcate zones for running stone crushers so that 25,000 people engaged in the work should not be left jobless. He said these norms were intended to close down units under operation over the years.

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