SRINAGAR: The Government said in the Assembly that the moratorium on the establishment of new air-polluting industries in Khrew and Khonmoh will remain in force until the annual average air quality index falls below 100 or the Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index score falls below 60, amid continuing concerns over dust and emissions from cement factories and limestone mining.
The information was supplied in a written reply to a starred question tabled by Hasnain Masoodi and placed on record by the Government, which said the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee had issued the moratorium on January 22, 2021 and reviewed it on December 20, 2023. The committee has directed cement industries to install Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems, and two monitoring stations have been set up at Khrew and Khonmoh for regular checks.
The reply said ambient monitoring at the two stations between 2022 and 2025 showed elevated levels of PM10, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, and that a study on air quality in Khrew and Khonmoh, district Pulwama, was assigned to the University of Kashmir in September 2025; its results are awaited.
On industrial and mining permissions, the government disclosed that nine mining leases were granted in the Khrew-Wuyan area of the district Pulwama, of which four are operational and working in accordance with approved mining plans, environment clearances and consents to operate. The remaining five leases remain non-operational for want of environment clearance and consent to operate, the reply said.
To curb fugitive dust and vehicular emissions, the committee has advised a set of practical measures, including proper macadamisation and adequate width of roads in mining and industrial areas, covered transportation of raw and crushed materials, sealed transport of cement consignments and regular water sprinkling on haul and link roads. The reply warned that heavy vehicular movement and poor road conditions are primary contributors to elevated air pollution in the locality.
The Pollution Control Committee has also prescribed technical controls for cement plants. Units have been advised to install emission control devices such as automatic pulse jet bag filters, reverse air bags and electrostatic precipitators; plants with a production capacity of 200 tonnes per day have been directed to fit Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems with real-time data uploads to the Central Pollution Control Board.
On the use of petroleum coke, the reply referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Pet Coke Furnace Oil Policy and to the Supreme Court order of February 13, 2017 in MC Mehta versus Union of India, noting that pet coke may be permitted where it is absorbed in the product or used as feedstock. Such units must obtain authorisation under hazardous waste rules, fit advanced pollution control systems such as flue gas desulphurisation with more than 90 per cent sulphur removal efficiency or alkaline wet scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators, and must not store pet coke for more than three months.
