SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee received 58 applications for establishment of stone crushers between January 1, 2025 and September 2026, of which 27 were approved and 28 rejected, according to details placed before the Legislative Assembly.
The figures were provided by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment in response to a starred question, D. No. 1/6/519, tabled by Poonch Haveli MLA Ajaz Ahmad Jan.
The district-wise annexure lists fresh consents for establishment or operation of stone-crushing units across several districts, including Pulwama, Kulgam, Kupwara, Bandipora, Shopian, Baramulla, Udhampur, Poonch, Reasi, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Jammu North and Kathua.
The department said approvals were granted in accordance with the criteria and norms prescribed by the competent authority, environmental guidelines and the siting criteria for establishment and operation of stone crushers in Jammu and Kashmir.
It cited J&K Pollution Control Committee Order No. 70 of 2025, dated May 9, 2025, and the amended siting criteria issued through Order No. 124-JKPCC of 2025, dated August 30, 2025.
Five fresh approvals listed in Poonch
Poonch accounted for five applications in the district-wise application statement. The department separately listed four units approved for establishment in the district during the period: Malik Stone Crusher at Seeri Chowana, Shiva Stone Crusher and SMT Stone Crusher at Salotri and SMB Stone Crusher at Salotri.
The detailed consent records also list fresh permissions for these four Poonch units, with SMB Stone Crusher receiving Consent to Establish for a unit with a classifier and hot-mix plant.
The department said the approvals were issued by the Chairman of the J&K Pollution Control Committee, with the consent records carrying individual digital approval numbers and dates.
517 crusher inspections, violations detected
The Pollution Control Committee also inspected 517 crusher units across Jammu and Kashmir during the period under review — 318 in Kashmir division and 199 in Jammu division.
In Kashmir, 179 violations were recorded during the inspections. The district-wise record shows substantial enforcement activity in Pulwama, where 161 units were inspected and six violations were recorded, while Budgam reported 49 inspections and 49 violations.
In Anantnag, 26 units were inspected and two violations detected, with three closures recommended. Baramulla recorded 47 inspections and 19 violations.
The department’s Kashmir division statement records 154 closure orders and 112 legal notices in connection with the inspections.
In Jammu division, 199 inspections were conducted and 75 violations were recorded, according to the department’s consolidated figures. Enforcement action included directions and legal notices against units found in violation.
The department said directions were issued under Section 33-A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31-A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Reasons for closure action
The department said closure action was taken, among other reasons, against units that had not obtained the required NOC from the concerned Deputy Commissioner under S.O. 60 of 2021, dated February 23, 2021.
Other grounds included operating without the consent of the J&K Pollution Control Committee required under Sections 25/26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Operating units with inadequate or no pollution-control measures or devices was also cited as a ground for closure.
New consents across JK
The district-wise records show fresh consent for establishment or operation of units in Pulwama, including New Iqra Stone Crusher, New Royal Stone Crusher, Bismillah Stone Crusher and New Toiba Stone Crusher, while MS Bilal Stone Crusher, MS Green Land Stone Crusher and M/s Shahoora Stone Crusher were also listed.
Fresh permissions were also recorded for units in Kulgam, Kupwara, Bandipora, Shopian and Baramulla.
In Jammu division, fresh consents were listed for units in Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Jammu North and Kathua. No new unit was listed in the detailed consent annexure for Jammu South, Samba or Ramban.
The government said the remaining applications and cases under process were covered in the annexure accompanying its reply.
