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Axe to fall on Pochera crusher
The former MRO granted permission for the crusher without consulting the forest department, mining department and there was no Grama Sabha resolution to that effect.
The Hans Impact
Adilabad: Following a report published in The Hans India on Monday (‘Crushing poses threat to Pochera waterfalls’), the enquiry launched by MRO Prabhakar has revealed that the person operating the crusher for extracting granite near the Pochera waterfalls in Boath mandal has been using more than the permitted area.
The former MRO granted permission for the crusher without consulting the forest department, mining department and there was no Grama Sabha resolution to that effect. The enquiry report has concluded that the permission given to the crusher is against regulations. The MRO has sent a report to the RDO to cancel the permission and take action against the person operating the crusher.
However, the enquiry report did not mention about the role of former MRO who granted permission to the crusher owner. Responding to the news published in these columns, MRO Prabhakar has taken up enquiry. After finding permission for the crusher was illegal, he sent a report to the RDO and the Additional Director of Mining that the permission for the crusher should be immediately cancelled.
The report stated that the permission was against regulations as the waterfalls has already been recognised as a heritage structure, Prabhakar told The Hans India. According to the MRO, the enquiry report submitted by the officials had also revealed that hundreds of tourists were visiting the waterfalls daily and that they were facing severe hardship following blasts caused during the crushing.
Though the permission was given in Survey No.95/2 for 1.9 hectares, the person operating the crusher was found to be using three additional hectares, the enquiry confirmed. The report stated that water was reaching the waterfalls from the spot where the crusher was being operated.
It said there was a threat to the very existence of the waterfalls if the crushing was continued. He observed that destroying a heritage structure was also against regulations, so also the permission given for operating the crusher.
