Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh today conducted a public grievances redressal camp at Kathua and listened people’s grievances particularly development related issues.Chief Conservator of Forests Roshan Jaggi, District Forest Officer Ashwani Kumar and District Pollution Control Board were present on the occasion. Addressing a large gathering the Minister said that Government is fully aware of people’s problems and is making all out efforts to mitigate these in a phased manner. He maintained that Government is committed to provide all basic amenities to the people like safe drinking water, road connectivity, uninterrupted power supply, medicare facilities and schools. Later, a deputation of brick kiln owners of Kathua met the Minister and putforth their demands and problems. They said that the industry falls under the category of small scale and requires help from the pollution control department in following the laid down norms so that pollution emanating from there kilns can be effectively controlled to the minimum permissible level.
They also said that their line of activity plays an important role in overall development and assured the Minister that they will install all pollution control devices before the next summer season and cooperate with the department in preserving the ecology.Choudhary Lal Singh after giving patient hearing to their problems said that industry of any kind is an important part of our society but its functioning should be regulated properly and monitored.The Minister further added that all industries should be environment friendly and it is the responsibility of all industrialists that they should maintain clean and green environment in and around their industries.Choudhary Lal Singh asked them to plant trees in and around for healthy and pollution free environ. He directed them to install pollution control devices and follow other norms to control the pollution generating from their units.The Minister urged the brick kiln owners to follow all the sitting criteria while operating their brick kilns besides adopting good housekeeping practices including disposal of coal ash, proper layout , brick lining of passage, use of properly graded coal etc.