Skip to main content

Shocker awaits residents: Administration may increase prices of bricks


By Tahir Mushtaq 

GNS JAMMU, Aug 05: City residents, prepare for another shock, as administration may increase the rates of bricks after repeated plea by the brick Klin owners, who are alleging large scale losses due to increase in the prices of raw material. 
Sources said that though so far association of Brick Klin owners and administration had held several rounds of talks on the issue without reaching any conclusion, but now there is every likelihood that administration may give its consent for same in next few weeks. 
“There is tug of war going on between both sides. Though last year, new revised rates were announced by the administration, but it was rejected by powerful body of brick klin owners who are fleecing the people by charging higher rates in violation of the norms”, said a source. 
Recently the association members have also met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with demands that there should be revision of rates keeping in view the increased price of all the raw material, particularly coal, which is a major component during manufacturing of the bricks. 
It is pertinent to mention here that few months back, district administration had notified the rates of various qualities and makes of bricks. 
Sale rate of per thousand A class bricks have been set about Rs. Rs 3500, for class "B" quality of bricks, it has been fixed at Rs 2,990 per thousand at kiln site (local tax extra) and class "C" quality of bricks are to be sold at Rs. 2645 per thousand (local tax extra). Rate of "Tiles" has been sanctioned at Rs 3105 per thousand (local tax extra). However in order to have higher profit margin, the klin owners are selling the C grade bricks at the rate of A grade bricks at various places. 
About two months back administration had directed the Police to take action against the illegal selling and number of trucks were detained after a special crackdown was launched. Most of them were selling B and C grade bricks at Rs 8,000 to 10,000 per thousand, but much higher than the rates fixed by district administration. 
“The owners are adhering to Section 13 of the J&K Brick-kilns (Regulation) Act-2010 which has laid specific norms and resorting to several malpractices like overcharging and manufacturing poor quality bricks”, alleged Nadeem Qadri, who runs a NGO. 
When contacted Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma said, “We are looking into the issue but the interests of people will be taken into account. So far no decision has been taken and we will hold talks with the association”. 
Janakraj Mahajan, president of the Brick Kiln Owners Association, Jammu, said it has become necessary as they are facing great losses. 
“Prices of raw material have shot up and we are bearing heavy losses.Administration should take immediate steps to announce new rates”, Mahajan said.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

When the holy Quran was placed before Mohammed Maqbool Butt on the morning of February 11,

When the holy Quran was placed before Mohammed Maqbool Butt on the morning of February 11, 1984, he knew that death awaited him in the phansi kothi a few yards away. A high voltage bulb burning outside the grated doors of his solitary cell in the death row was indicative of the outside darkness. If he had had any hopes of living awhile yet, they were dashed by the presence of the” prison doctors. Jail superintendent, A.B. Shukla/had paid Butt a visit in the middle of the previous night. Shukla chatted with him for a long time but cautiously avoided any talk about the execution. “I will see you on Monday”, Butt’s counsel on record, the sallow-complexioned R.C. Pathak, had told him during a brief interview they were allowed on the evening of February 10. In answer, the condemned Kashmir Liberation Front leader, who was awarded the death sentence of the murder of a CID officer in 1966, had meaningfully remarked: “Do you think they will permit us a second meeting?” He was right! Butt was n...

Contact district administration if CRPF personnel indulge in excesses: Div Com

We are bound to taking action against erring CRPF personnel” DC Srinagar GNS Srinagar, March 07 : Coming down heavily on unbridled CRPF personnel for ransacking houses and religious places, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asghar Samoon Thursday appealed people to contact District administration in case CRPF personnel indulge in ransacking houses in any area. Meanwhile Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan said that he will look into the matter and will try to find out where ransacking has taken place.“Strict action will be taken against the erring CRPF personnel. I fail to understand how they act independently when standard operating procedures (SOP) have been set for them. I want to assure people that whosoever indulge in excesses will face the music,” Divisional Commissioner told adding that police in no way should give free hand to CRPF personnel.When asked that CRPF personnel ransacked the Batamaloo shrine, beat people and smashed window panes in Dhobi Mohalla and...

CRPF vehicle allegedly crushed two youth in Kupwara

Ransacked dozens of houses smashed window panes in Srinagar GNS SRINAGAR MARCH  07 :Violent protests erupted in North Kashmir’s frontier district after a CRPF vehicle allegedly crushed two youth.In Srinagar’s Batamaloo area CRPF allegedly ransacked dozens of houses and smashed window panes and doors. People claimed that CRPF personnel even didn’t spare women and ch ildren and beat them to pulp. “CRPF personnel forced their entries into the houses and they even entered into Batamaloo Ziyarat and beat everyone whosoever came in the way,” a local from Batamaloo told on phone.Sister of Muslim League Chairman, Mushtaq-ul-Islam told on phone that their house was targeted by CRPF personnel and all the windowpanes were smashed by unbridled forces personnel. “There was no stone-pelting. Everything was calm. Suddenly we heard sound and saw CRPF personnel throwing marbles through catapult. They broke all the window panes of our house,” she said.