Rana orders strict action against illegal units operating in forest areas

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Minister for Forests, Ecology & Environment, Javed Ahmed Rana on Wednesday directed senior functionaries of the department to initiate stringent action against all illegally operating Stone Crusher Units, Hot Mix Plants and Batching Plants within the Jammu Forest Division.
The Minister issued these directions while chairing a high-level review meeting at Civil Secretariat, convened to assess the functioning and compliance status of such industrial units operating in and around forest areas.
During the meeting, Rana emphasized that no illegal or environmentally non-compliant activity would be tolerated, instructing officers to take action under all relevant legal provisions against any units found violating forest or environmental regulations.
He stressed that these directions must translate into visible on-ground outcomes, directing the field functionaries to adopt a proactive, result-oriented approach. The Minister further directed officials to undertake a comprehensive verification of pollution control measures being implemented by each operational unit. He underscored the need to minimize ecological impact through strict adherence to environmental protection norms and sustainable operational practices.