State

No License required to operate Stone Crushers, Hot & Wet Mixing Plants

(Asian News Hub) – In its resolve to promote ‘Ease of Doing Business’ by creating a business-friendly environment, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir today notified the J&K Stone Crushers/ Hot and Wet Mixing Plants Regulation Rules, 2021 which have dispensed away the requirement of a license to start operation of stone crushers/ hot and wet mixing plants in Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision will facilitate establishment and functioning of stone crushers, hot & wet mixing plants and boost the supply of raw material required in the construction sector. This will also expedite completion of various mega-projects in Jammu & Kashmir.

The new rules recognize a stone crusher/hot and wet mixing plant as a mineral-based (raw material) processing unit different from those indulged in mineral mining activity. As such, the applicability of provisions regulating the working of industrial units has been extended to cover these units, thus, doing away with the need of obtaining respective licenses from the Mining Department. However, if a stone crusher/hot and wet mixing plant undertakes mining of mineral as an additional line of activity, it shall then be additionally governed by the rules applicable to mining industrial units.

The rules make it obligatory on the mineral processing units to procure minor minerals from a valid mining concessionaire registered with the Mining Department. The Department has been authorized to inspect such units, ascertain the source of the raw material and undertake seizure of the illegally sourced minerals.

Moreover, the rules also simplify the unit establishment process by reducing the requisite clearances/ NOCs to merely two documents namely- Consent to Operate (CTO) from Pollution Control Board (PCB) and NOC from the concerned Deputy Commissioner regarding the title of land and its usage. Issuance of district-level NOC has been brought under the J&K Public Services Guarantee Act, 2011 making it mandatory to issue the document within 30 days.

The industrial units can voluntarily opt for registration with the Industries and Commerce Department through Udyog Aadhar registration to avail the benefits under various Government-sponsored schemes.

The decision provides major relief to the entrepreneurs by removing the burden of double registrations wherein the unit holders had to go through the rigorous procedures of registrations/ licensing with the Industries and Commerce Department as well as the Mining Department.

State

Pregnant woman killed, 2 injured as srinagar-bound ambulance meets with an accident in Ramban

(Asian News Hub) – An expecting woman got killed and two other persons received injuries after an ambulance they were on board met with an accident in Batote in Ramban district on Saturday afternoon.

Reports said that the ambulance driver purportedly lost control over the vehicle, enroute to SKIMS Srinagar from Doda. The vehicle rolled down a deep gorge, resulting in on spot death of a pregnant woman besides injuries to two other persons – said to attendants of the (now deceased) woman.

The identification of deceased woman or injured duo could not be immediately known.

GNS

National

BSF, Pak Rangers resolve to maintain peace on border in first meeting after Ceasefire

Meeting held on Islamabad’s request, lodged strong protest over Drone activities: BSF

(Asian News Hub) – Border guards of India and Pakistan on Saturday resolved to remain committed to each other to maintain peace and harmony at International Border in Jammu.

Border Security Forces (BSF) said that Sector Command level meeting, first after New Delhi and Islamabad decided on steadfast holding of ceasefire, was held on request of Pakistan Rangers on International Border in Suchetgarh area of the Jammu.

The BSF delegation was led by Surjit Singh, DIG, Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers delegation was led by Brig Murad Hussain, sector commander Pakistan Rangers, Sialkot Sector , S P S Sandhu (DIG), a spokesman of the BSF, said in a statement cited by GNS.

“It was the first Sector Commander level meeting between two border guarding Forces, after declaration of cease fire agreement by DGMOs.”

“During meeting, Commanders of both the border guarding Forces, discussed various issues with main emphasis by BSF delegation on Pak Drone activities, (militant) activities by Pakistan from across the border, digging of tunnels by Pakistan and other issues related to Border management,” the spokesman said, adding, “A very strong protest was lodged by BSF delegates regarding drone activities by Pakistan authorities in Jammu area.”

The spokesman said both the forces “decided to re-energize instant communication between field Commanders, whenever required, to resolve the ops matters.”

“ Meeting was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere and both side agreed for expeditious implementation of the decisions taken in the earlier DG level talks and committed to each other to maintain peace and harmony at International Border,” he added.

GNS

State

Arms licence racket; Searches carried out at 40 location in J-K, Delhi: CBI

(Asian News Hub) – The Central Bureau of Investigation on Saturday said that it conducted raids at around 40 locations including official and residential premises of certain IAS and KAS officers in a case related to Arms license racket in Jammu and Kashmir.

CBI today conducted searches at around 40 locations including Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Rajouri, Anantnag, Baramulla, Delhi (at the official and residential premises of certain then public servants, including IAS, KAS officers, then DM, then ADM etc), around 20 gun houses, dealers in an on-going investigation of a case related to Arms licence racket.

CBI had registered two cases on the request of Jammu and Kashmir government and further notification from Government of India, and took over the investigation of FIR No. 18 of 2018 dated 17.05.2018 earlier registered at Police Station Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK) and FIR No. 11 of 2018 dated 17.05.2018 of Police Station Vigilance Organisation Jammu (VOJ) on the allegations of bulk issuance of arms licenses in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 2012 to 2016.

CBI also collected documents pertaining to the issuance of said armed licences allegedly spread over 22 districts of J&K.

During investigation and scrutiny of documents, the role of certain gun dealers was found in connivance with the public servants i.e. the then DM and ADM of concerned District had allegedly issued such illegal arms licenses to the ineligible persons.

It was also alleged that the persons who got these licenses were not residents of the places from where the said arms licenses were issued.

Further investigation is going on.

Statement