Himachal: After a long protest, illegal stone crusher on the highway was sealed

Himachal Pradesh: An illegal stone crusher operating without proper documentation at Chhatdu on the Gramphu-Kaza-Sumdo Highway was sealed yesterday by officials of the Lahaul & Spiti district administration, pollution control board and police. The action comes after a long-running protest on social media and a formal complaint lodged with the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB), Shimla. The crusher had been operating illegally in Lahaul & Spiti district for a long time without the necessary permits, including the original Forest Conservation Act (FCA) clearance.

Kellong SDM Rajnish Sharma confirmed that the crusher was operating without the necessary documentation. A report was sent to Shimla by the HPSPCB, following which the Lahaul & Spiti district administration swung into action and sealed the crusher. The SDM said, “Yesterday a joint team of SDM, SDO of Pollution Control Board Sunil Sharma and local police visited the site to seal the crusher. The Kullu mining officer, who is in-charge of Lahaul, will seize the crushed material for further action.”