KATHUA: A panel for public hearing headed by Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Rahul Yadav today listened to the suggestions of the locals and other stakeholders for eliciting opinions, view points and suggestions for environmental clearance of minor mineral mining projects here at village SherKotla.
The other panelists included Regional Director, J &K, Pollution Control Board, Jammu, Dr. Syed Nadeem Hussain; District Mineral Officer, Dr. Devinder Singh; and Divisional Officer, PCB Kathua Anil Sharma.
As per Divisional Officer, PCB Kathua the public hearing was held for minor mineral mining projects over an area of 7.68 ha in block no. 1 (28) at Sahar Khad upstream, village SherKotla, in terms of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, 2006 of Ministry of Environmen, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India.
Vice-Chairman, DDC Kathua, Raghunandan Singh & Sarpanches of Sahar & Logate Panchayat halqas participated in the public hearing and presented their views before the audience.
The Environmental consultant representing the project proponent gave a detailed presentation on the project and made the audience aware about the benefits of scientific mining and environmental safeguards to be adopted in implementation of the project.
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua in his address told the participating public that scientific mining will be done in proposed minor mineral projects taking care of all the environmental safeguards. The project will provide employment to locals and facilitate the availability of the minor minerals in the area.