Seven stone crushers’ power supply cut

Our Correspondent

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Palampur, July 15

The state government today disconnected the power supply to seven stone crushers in Jaisinghpur subdivision with an “excuse” to check environmental degradation in the wake of the monsoon season.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Crusher Association at Jaisinghpur alleged that the decision of the state government was illegal and uncalled for. He said the association would approach court against the order. He alleged that the Mining Department had adopted a pick-and-choose policy while disconnecting the power supply of stone crushers. He said the power supply had been cut off only in Jaisinghpur subdivision and in other parts of the district or the state, all crushers were functional.

He alleged that the department had also disconnected power supply to dozens of labour sheds situated along the stone crushers arbitrarily even as the orders were meant for only industrial connections. A number of labourers living in small sheds staged a protest. They said despite repeated requests, their power supply had not been restored.

Labourers said the risk of snakebite at night loomed large as most of the stone crushers were situated on the banks of the Beas river and other local rivulets, where hundreds of snakes were seen daily.

Assistant Engineer, HPSEBL, Kuldip Kumar said the power supply had been disconnected as per directions of the Mining Officer, Dharmsala, which also covered domestic connections to labour huts.

A senior officer of the state government said these orders would remain in effect till September 30. Thereafter, the government will review the situation.