5 days ago
HC halts stone crusher operation near residential area
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court's division bench of Justices Ravindra Maithani and Alok Mahra issued notices to M/s Sai Kripa Stone Crusher during a PIL hearing on environmental concerns over its construction in Dehradun.
The court directed the state to act within a week and submit a counter-affidavit in four weeks.
Petitioner Skand Kumar Sing, a social activist, highlighted that the crusher is just 200m from a densely populated area, including residential houses, schools, and an anganwadi centre. The petitioner also submitted maps showing the location of the crusher. He sought the suspension of both construction and operations during the petition's pendency.
A college principal also repeatedly notified authorities about the stone crusher's construction, disrupting educational activities in the school.
The counsel representing the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) said that, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) policy, stone crushers are permitted to operate only in designated zones and must be at least 300m from residential areas.
These operations release significant fugitive dust, causing environmental pollution and health risks to workers and nearby residents.
The court allowed respondents to file objections to the interim relief application. "In the meanwhile, the stone crusher unit shall not carry out construction or operation of the stone crusher. The district magistrate, Dehradun, shall ensure it," the court said on Friday, scheduling the next hearing for Oct 8.
