Factories damaging vegetable crops to be punished: Minister

Jammu, Nov 19 (UNI) Taking serious note of the total damage to vegetable crops due to water and air pollution in the Jammu region, the state government warned factory owners that stern action would be taken against them under the law, if they were found guilty.

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution S Manjit Singh yesterday conducted a tour of Tanda Durg area along with experts of officers of AG Department and took note of the damage to crops in the area.

He, after receiving complaint from farmers, visited various vegetable fields to ascertain the cause of damage. The experts also collected samples of various vegetables for a testing purpose.

During the tour, farmers apprised the minister that vegetables spread over an area of 1600 acres of various villages include Tanda Durg, Dayala Chak, Chajwal, Nai Basti, Mandhak, Chak Bhag and others have been affected.

Mr Singh assured the farmers that agriculture experts have been asked to ascertain the causes and submit their report within two or three days, so that necessary measures in this direction are initiated.

The Director, Agriculture, Jammu, Farooq Hakak, Director, Command area, Jammu, Manzoor Shah and Director, Extension, SKUAST who accompanied the minister assured that immediate steps for testing the plants and causes of damage will be taken.

The minister also asked the experts to inspect the industrial growth center of Samba and report whether the cause of damage is polluted water and air and if found guilty take stern action against those factory owners under the law.

He also added that the factory owners, if found guilty, will have pay compensation for damaged crops to affected farmers. He asked all the industrialists to install effluent treatment plants in the industrial areas to protect the air and other related pollution-prone areas.

UMI HGV LL BST1031