Last week the Jammu and Kashmir government awarded a free pass to the stone crushers to operate in Jammu and Kashmir. The notification of the J&K Stone Crushers/ Hot and Wet Mixing Plants Regulation Rules, 2021 set an alarm in ecologically fragile Kashmir.
The government justified the order claiming that the decision will facilitate establishment and functioning of stone crushers, hot and wet mixing plants and boost the supply of raw material required in the construction sector. This will also expedite completion of various mega-projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
The environmentalists, social activists and local intelligentsia, however, termed it as an ecological disaster in offing. Probably, this is the only law post abrogation Article 370 that evoked sharp criticism in Jammu and Kashmir in general and Kashmir region in particular. It is fact that limestone and mining in Jammu and Kashmir is the million dollars worth industry and is substantially unexplored.
Tapping its potential might help the Union Territory to make good money and open new vistas of job opportunities for the local youth. Given to the recently enacted law that allows hot and wet stone crushers to operate without any licenses will prove disastrous for serene and cool environs of Kashmir. The pollution levels and the air quality in Kashmir valley relatively is much better.
Across the country, Kashmir is geographically unique and is not sharing its weather, geography and topography with any other parts of the country. So it cannot be governed by the rules that are existing in other states. In view of its peculiarity from all sides, it deserves its own set of rules to be framed with the due consultation of concerned stake holders.
The executive orders which have minimum chances to stand in the court of law can only derail the developmental processes and trigger chaos and fears among the local populace. There are multiple other sectors that deserve to be promoted to increase the job opportunities.
After the article 370 abrogation, the Union government allayed the fears that any industrialization will be set up in Kashmir adverse to flora and fauna. Down the line of two years, it seems the government is least interested in protecting the flora and fauna of Kashmir.
Setting up anti environmental friendly industrial set ups may not only hurt the Kashmir environmentally, but also it will prove counterproductive to the efforts of government to bring Kashmir on a tourism map as an alternative of Switzerland. The choice is with government either to make Kashmir as Davos of Asia or second Kanpur of India.
