HARIDWAR | Dec 08, 2016: Almost 52 stone crusher units operating along the Ganga River in Haridwar face threat of being shut down after an order by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which has banned all mining activities within a 5-km radius of the river bed.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had on a previous occasion; too banned mining near the river but CPCB's order issued on Tuesday is believed to be more stringent than any previous order in this regard.

Haridwar district magistrate and senior superintendent of police have been asked to enforce the order with immediate effect. Any violation will invite a jail term of five years and a penalty of one lakh rupees, sources said.

The CPCB order was issued in response to a representation submitted by Matri Sadan, an ashram at Haridwar, to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest. It was about the proposed mining of minor minerals in the Ganga river bed in Haridwar by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, "which raised the concern of the river's pollution." The representation was forwarded to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) which forwarded it to the CPCB requesting for necessary action in the matter.

The CPCB in exercise of its powers under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 issued on 2.12.16 directions to the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, Haridwar to effectively ban mining in the Ganga in Haridwar. "The DM and SSP shall ensure that the decision of the Uttarakhand Government banning mining in Raiwala to Bhogpur stretch of Ganga River in Haridwar is strictly complied and no illegal mining takes place in this stretch of Ganga River."

The CPCB letter referred to Haridwar DM's letter dated 16.2.16 written to the state government in which it was said that if stone crushers within five km from the river's bank are shut down, it will help checking illegal mining. In view of it, the CPCB directed the state's principal secretary, industrial development that he "shall issue necessary orders immediately for closure of operation of stone crushers/ pulverizes as applicable along the banks of Ganga in Raiwala to Bhogpur stretch in Haridwar." It also said that "on issuance of necessary orders from state government, DM and SSP, Haridwar "shall immediately ensure closure of stone crushers/pulverizes."

According to sources, the CPCB had issued on 9.4.15 directions to Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board to direct GMVN stop illegal mining in the Ganga at village Bishanpur and its adjoining areas. The NGT also issued an order on 15.4.15 directing the state government and DM, Haridwar to "ensure that no illegal, unauthorised, unscientific mining is permitted to carry on without taking environmental clearance."

While the local residents welcomed the CPCB decision, they were skeptic about its implementation. "Had the administration been serious about the problem of mining and its adverse effect on the Ganga river, they would have enforced the earlier orders issued by various government bodies," said Rakesh Chandra, a retired engineer. "It is not an easy task to shut down so many stone crushers, for their owners have considerable political clout," remarked Tejvir Singh Tomar. A third resident on condition of anonymity said that closing down of the stone crushers will lead to shortage of material which is used in private as well as public construction work." He, however, agreed that illegal mining damaged the Ganga and led to its pollution.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)