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Jajpur: As many as 16 stone crushing units were sealed in Odisha's Jajpur district for illegal operations, official sources said today.
The action came during a joint crack down by local administration and Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB)in the last three days, they said.
Power supply to these units has also been snapped by the authorities after sealing them, they said adding the Tehsildar of Dhamasala led the drive in assistance with OSPCB, police, forest and electricity departments.
The measures were undertaken for violation of rules relating to site criteria and clearance from the OSPCB for setting up units and operation.
We have sealed 16 units so far. The units which came under the scanner either violated the prescribed rules or creating pollution, said Puskar Chandra Behera, assistant environmental scientist of OSPCB.
Many units were running without taking establishment and operation consent from OSPCB, he said adding "the action is being initiated at the direction of the state government."
Several units either have not followed norms like keeping a distance of 200 metre from NH or state highway and express highway guidelines or keeping 500 metre distance from human habitation, school, college or public place.
Jajpur district has highest number of stone crusher units and as many as 300 are operational in Dharmasala tehasil jurisdiction limits. Most of them are beside National Highway and Express highway.
