JAMMU, FEBRUARY 11: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary informed the Legislative Assembly that a High-Level Multi-Departmental Committee has been constituted to examine and finalize the modalities for the revival of traditional stone quarrying at Panthachowk (Srinagar), Saderkoot Bala (Bandipora), and other locations.
Responding to a question by MLA Hasnain Masoodi, he said the committee has held meetings with relevant departments and will submit its recommendations shortly. The report will be shared with concerned MLAs before final submission to the government.
Regarding the rehabilitation of former quarry holders, he said individual quarries were grouped into clusters based on historical and revenue records. Ten quarry belts in the Pulwama district were designated as clusters, of which three were later withdrawn. However, applicants have not yet obtained the mandatory Environmental Clearance, Consent to Operate, and required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for obtaining licenses.
To support livelihoods, the department has been issuing permits for the disposal of loose material at quarry sites. In the Kashmir Division, former quarry holders have been allowed to collect and transport loose material for government projects, including the 34,650 metric tonnes permitted to the Booh Awantipora quarry cluster holders in Pulwama.