SURMUKH SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) VIDE a general order dated 05.10.2012 (Annexure P4), on account of imposition of ban on extracting sand, stone, gravel etc., the running stone crushing units were ordered to be closed temporarily. Petitioner came to this Court by stating that he be allowed to run his stone crushing unit by getting materials from the adjoining State of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir etc.

(2.) TAKING note of a fact that some crushing units are situated in river beds, this Court passed the following order on 22.04.2013:

(3.) IT was noted that large number of stone crushers are running their stone crushing units in areas like river bed/choes or in the catchment areas of the rivers etc., citing parameters fixed in matter on 17.03.1998 was relied upon to show that. It was also said that if such like units are allowed to continue, it will amount to environmental degradation. The State authorities were directed to reconsider the citing parameters with particular reference to whether stone crushers shall be allowed to operate from river bed/choes etc. or not.