TURA, JAN 7: The district administration of West Garo hills revoked the ban on stone quarrying for a period of three months. The quarries were closed down last year, after chief minister Mukul Sangma toured different parts of the district in the aftermath of the devastating flood in Garo hills.
“We gave in to the complaints of developmental works getting stalled but have asked quarry owners to ensure compliance within the stipulated time. We have asked for strict compliance to environmental guidelines”, said Pravin Bakshi, deputy commissioner of West Garo hills today.
The permission for stone mining environment clearance is required from Meghalaya state pollution control board, PWD and others. The interim order was passed on December 10 last.
He said that the order was passed after consultation with Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), forest department, PWD (Roads) and district administration officials.
“It is a temporary lift on the ban”, Bakshi asserted. The district administration has also asked the stone quarry owners to obtain all papers from relevant departments.
However, Bakshi stated that quarries which are close to road side will remain permanently shut. “We have specified that the stone crushers can only be allowed 100 metres from the road and stone quarries need to be at least 500 metres from the road. The ones that were beside the road have been permanently shut down”, he added.
Bakshi informed that the ban had posed a hurdle for the ongoing road repair works for Dalu-Tura and Tura- Mahendraganj. He also informed that Bangladesh had filed a complaint with the Indian Commission for not horning the letter of credit, which was one of the reasons that was also considered for the revoke of the ban.- From Our Correspondent
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