Demands reservation of mineral blocks for stone crushers
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A deputation of Stone Crusher Association on Friday called on Apni Party President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari here in Jammu and presented a memorandum seeking end to the harassment by the authorities.
As per a press statement, the deputation members met Altaf Bukhari at Apni Party Office in Gandhi Nagar while appraising him about the problems faced by them for purchase of raw material and selling of finished material.
The deputation was led by ST Wing President, Saleem Alam in which stone crusher’s deputation accompanied by Dev Choudhary and his team members met Bukhari sahib. “Day by day our stone crusher units are being harassed either by the mining department and even by the law enforcement agencies as their loaded vehicles are seized and huge penalties are being imposed,” the deputation members complained.
They further informed Altaf Bukhari sahib that recently district mineral officers have served notices to all the stone crusher owners for installation of weight bridges on every exit point of the stone crushers and dumpers (mineral dealers) exit points. “However, the stone crushers are not in a position to install weight bridges which cost around Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 20 lakhs for installation,” they said. They also demanded that the Govt should keep some mineral blocks exclusively for the stone crushers so that they can easily get the raw material.
“All over India, except J&K, the Department of Mining keeps some mineral blocks reserved for stone crushers to make sure they get the raw material. They are ready to deposit some royalty and other taxes in advance to generate government exchequers if some mineral blocks are reserved for us,” they said. Meanwhile, they also raised the issue of harassment by the mining lease holders to the stone crushers by getting more than the prescribed government royalty rates. After hearing them patiently, Altaf Bukhari assured them that their demands would be projected before the concerned authorities for the redressal of the issues.
He also assured that the Apni Party is committed for the welfare of every sector and to help the business sector to grow in Jammu and Kashmir for its peace, and equitable development.
Meanwhile, Provincial President, Jammu, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh also spoke on the occasion, and extended support to the Stone Crusher Association on behalf of the party. He said that “The issue of police and the concerned mining department has increased for the last several years. The Apni Party will continue to highlight the issues of the general public as well as the business community.”
Provincial Vice President, Ex-MLA Faqir Nath and Provincial Secretary / Jammu Urban District President, Dr Rohit Gupta, were among those who were present on the occasion.