NoC for captive stone quarries from Panchayats waived off
CM directs forest deptt. to adopt proactive approach for forest clearances
Vijyender Sharma
This was decided in a meeting pertaining to review mining activities in the State presided over by Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh along with Industries Minister Shri Mukesh Agnihotri here today.
As the process of allotting crushers consumes lot of time and has to go through numerous procedural formalities including NoC from environment, Panchayats, Forest clearances, and other line departments, the development activities, particularly construction of roads comes to halt which effects the budgeted works.
It was also decided to maintain live registers and for online registration of applicants who apply for setting up the crushers and to submit monthly report to the Chief Ministers office. Besides, directions have to be issued to all Sub Divisional Magistrates to give report in a time bound manner and at the earliest concerning to setting up of stone crushers.
Since the National Highway Authority of India was undertaking road projects worth over Rs 6000 crore, it was the duty of the State government to assist them in setting up the crushers so that the it did not cause any hindrance in the progress of the work in best interest of the State, stated Chief Secretary Shri V.C. Pharka in the meeting.
Industries Minister also supported the cause for change in mining policy for setting up quarries and to simplify the procedure and said that as of now, 150 legal stone crushers were operational in the state which were hardly 12 to 15 during the previous government's regime bringing development to halt then.
Similarly, in another meeting pertaining to forest clearance by the forest department, the Chief Minister directed the forest department to adopt pro-active approach and guide the concerned departments and facilitate them in getting forest clearance. He said that most of the works were in limbo due to number of procedural formalities by the forest departments. The Chief Minister also directed the concerned departments to send the complete case to the forest department and said that in case of any observations, the Nodal officer of the forest department should call the concerned official to assist and guide about rules and should also hold weekly meeting with the nodal officers of the concerned departments.
The Chief Minister said that 13 specific developmental activities could be carried out in forest area to the extent of one hectare. He said that the forest land could be diverted for the clearance of development projects up-to one hectare and the concerned Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) should be proactive enough to do the needful so that development activities be carried out benefitting the people at large.
The Chief Minister also directed for upgrading the degraded forest land
Citing examples of the forest clearances in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts, the Chief Secretary said that the other Divisional forest Officers should also follow the suit and grant permission for 13 services as mentioned under the Forest Rights Act and Forest Conservation Act.
It was disclosed that as of now 34 cases were given forest clearance out of which 10 were in Lahaul, 10 in Spiti and 14 in Shimla district.
Additional Chief Secretary Shri R.D. Dhiman, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri SP Vasudeva and other senior officers of State government were also present in the meeting.
**VijyenderSharma*, Press Correspondent Bohan Dehra Road JAWALAMUKHI-176031, Kangra HP(INDIA)*
Contact Number is 09736276343Mobile
Contact Number is 09736276343Mobile
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