Jammu, Feb 11: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today said that a High Level Multi Departmental Committee has been constituted to examine and finalize the modalities for revival of customary mining activities of stone quarrying at Panthachowk Srinagar, Saderkoot Bala Bandipora and other related locations.

The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Legislator Hasnain Masoodi in the Legislative Assembly.
He said that the committee has already conducted a series of meetings with the stakeholder departments regarding the matter. He added that the committee will submit its recommendations in the shortest possible time.
He informed the house that once the Committee drafts its report, the same shall be shared with the concerned members of Legislative Assembly before submitting its final report/recommendation to the government.
Regarding rehabilitation of the erstwhile quarry holders, the Deputy CM said that the department had to club the Individual Quarries, falling in areas ancestrally occupied as per the legacy data of the department and certified by the Revenue Department, and declare them as Cluster of Quarries to be considered for Quarry Licence. Subsequently, the department declared 10 Quarry Belts in Lethpora, Mandakpal, Khrew and Wuyanin Pulwama District as Quarry Clusters with the directions to submit the Approved Mining Plan, Environmental Clearance and Consent to Operate from the Competent Authorities for formal and grant of Quarry Licence in favour of the erstwhile Quarry holders. Of which, 03 clusters have been withdrawn, he added.
He said that however, till date, no applicant of the above mentioned declared Clusters were able to submit the Environmental Clearance and Consent to Operate and NOCS of Stakeholder departments issued by the competent authorities, for formal grant of Quarry License in their favour.
Further, in order to provide the livelihood of the erstwhile quarry holders in Lethpora, Ladhu, Mandakpal, Khrew and Wuyan, the department has issued disposal permits of the Loose Material available in the quarry sites from time to time, he added.
Deputy Chief Minister said erstwhile quarry holders in Kashmir Division can lift/transport loose quarry material for government works and to secure livelihood. This includes Booh Awantipora Quarry cluster holders, Pulwama who were allowed to lift 34,650 metric tonnes of quarry stone.
Legislator Hilal Akbar Lone raised supplementary question.