Industrial units being set up only after PCB clearance; J&K minister

Srinagar, Aug 20 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government today assured that no industrial unit will be allowed to function without following the norms set by the Pollution Control Board (PCB) for pollution check.

This assurance was given by the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture minister Abul Aziz Zargar in the Legislative Council in reply to a question by Sardar Arvinder Singh who wanted to know why the government allowed establishing of pesticide manufacturing units when in other states these were being closed down because of some accidents.

He alleged that two people had died and 16 fell ill after taking water which was being polluted by an industrial unit in Samba.

Mr Singh said instead of closing such industrial units, the government had allowed setting up of 60 more units and granted permission for 21 more such units.

The minister said as per provisions of Iinsecticides Act 1968 and Insecticides Rule 1971, the established pesticides manufacturing units were being inspected from time to time and their performance in respect of quality was also being monitored.

He said it was being ensured that they were adopting all provisions of the said Act.

The minister informed the house that no unit has been granted registration either provisional or formal unless the unit obtained certificate for operation from the State Pollution Board.

In reply to supplementary asked by the member, the minister said before being granted permission for setting up any industrial unit, all the concerned departments were jointly discussing the request.

UNI