Villagers take ‘illegal’ chicken to CM By SEN SOPORE. Published: Sun, 09 June 2013 12:37 AM SRINAGAR: Government claims of ensuring speedy execution of public works have fallen flat for the residents of north Kashmir’s Krankshivan village, the grievanceof the residents being that the authorities have not been able to close down an ‘illegal’ poultry farm in the area in the last six months, prompting them to take the case to the Chief Minister’s office. In December last year, residents of Krankshivan, Sopore submittedapplications in various concernedgovernment departments seekingthe closure of a poultry farm going by the name of “Golden Poultry Farm” in the area, which they said was operating illegally and causing health problems in the vicinity. So far, however, government offices have been issuing letters and orders to one another to take ‘necessary action’ for closingdown the farm, while no action has been taken on the ground. Feeling things were not being taken seriously enough, the residents took the case to the Chief Minister’s grievance cell. In response to the application of the residents, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board (JKPCB), last year on December 3, issued a legal notice to Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Rather, the owner ofthe farm, asking him to explain within 15 days why action could not be taken against him for operating a farm without permission from the board and causing environmental pollution in the area. As the unit holder failed to show any response, the board forwarded the letter to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla to take the necessary action. In response, on December 28, theDC Baramulla issued letters to SubDivisional Magistrate Sopore and Tehsildar Sopore directing them to close the unit. However, not taking the DC’s order seriously, these departments did not take any action which prompted irked residents to take the case again to the JKPCB. The Board on April 13 issued a letter to Deputy Commissioner Baramulla directing that the farm be closed down. Letters were alsosent to Chief Engineer Electric andMaintenance (PDD), Srinagar directing the snapping of electric supply to the unit and Director Industries and Commerce Kashmir to deregister the unit. In response, DC Baramulla on May 4 issued a letter to Sub-District Magistrate (SDM) Sopore to ensure the implementation of theorders of the JKPCB. “We informed the Tehsildar Sopore in black and white but unfortunately he is not responding. Therefore, we request your goodself to enquire the same and close the farm,” reads the DC’s letter. Instead of taking any action himself, however, the SDM forwarded the case to the Tehsildar again to take the action as directed by the DC. So far, however, no action has been taken by any department to take the necessary action as directed by the JKPCB. When Tehsildar Sopore, Mohammad Ramzan, was contacted on the issue, he said that he did not take any action because the poultry owner had young chicken in the farm. Hence the owner was given some time to let them grow, he said. “The office will take further action according to the norms,” Ramzan added. The residents, however, would take none of the official versions. “The poultry farm is still operational with new chicks being brought in,” said Zahoor Ahmed, a resident of the area. “And since the authorities don’t seem to be interested in carrying out any real action, we have taken the case to the Divisional Commissioner and Chief Minister’sgrievance cell,” he said. We are just hoping that we get the issue resolved there, Zahoor added.sen news.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 15:26:59 +0000
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