Srinagar, Oct 20 (KNS): The Pollution Control Board has failed to enforce the pollution control laws which would have control the pollution emanating from industrial areas in Jammu and Kashmir. The department is primarily with the responsibility to regulate and implement various pollution control laws.
Even though the government has been saying that it was serious to put curb on pollution, the officials of PCB seem in deep slumber in controlling the pollution level in the state.
The residents of industrial areas have been flaying the PCB for its failure in regulating the pollution control laws.
“The pollution is emanating from industries and has taken a heavy toll on the human lives due to industrial pollution,” the residents of Khutwa told KNS.
They said majority of residents are inhaling poor-quality air and the situation is likely to worsen in the coming years, keeping in view expansion of industries.
“There has been a rise in respiratory diseases, breathlessness, burning sensation of throat, eyes and nose as well as headache,” the residents said.
It has already been mentioned in various reports that the suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) have witnessed a steep rise in the Jammu region’s industrial areas especially in winter capital and Kuthua during the past two decades.
“There is a cement manufacturing unit, a rolling mill, are a polypropylene bag unit, but they have not installed the required pollution control devices,” the residents said.
The residents said they brought the issue into the notice of PCB authorities many a times but no action was taken.
The residents of Zewan complained that rampant pollution-noise, air-caused due to the stone crushers, which are operating with the habitation have made their lives hell.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThey demanded that authorities should shut these units immediately as they “pose” danger to their lives.
As per PCB rules, officials said the existing stone crusher units have to run from a distance of half a kilometer and the new units from one kilometer away and have to install pollution restricts.
However, the residents said they have time and again appealed the concerned authorities to shut the stone crushers or ask their owners to install pollution control devices of prescribed standards, but to no avail.
They accused the units are operating “by the permission” of the PCB officials, who despite knowing that these polluting units “risk our lives” are allowing them to operate in the residential area.
They said pollution caused due to stone crushers had affected their health and even their children were suffering from chronic bronchitis.
They said the stone crushers were also affecting their normal life. “Our children can’t study, we can’t worship. Even inhaling air has become dangerous. These units disrupt our peace,” the residents said.
The residents of Khrew in Pampore area of south Kashmir says the illegal mining had created havoc in the area and added to their woes. “During a mining process dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reasons which is responsible for deteriorating health conditions of workers and local residents,” the residents of Khrew said. They said the PCB officials were in nexus with the illegal mining extractors.
Similarly, the pesticide units of Industrial Growt Centre (IGC) Samba according to locals were affecting their lives and the PCB officials were helping them to operate illegally without installing pollution control devices. (KNS)