Himachal waives off NoC requirement to develop stone quarries

In a move towards procedural simplification, the government of Himachal Pradesh today waived off the requirement to seek No Objection Certificate (NoC) from Panchayats to set up captive stone quarries.
"The condition to seek NoC for captive stone quarries from Panchayats for construction and development of roads and hydel projects will be henceforth waived-off as a move towards procedural simplification," Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said at a meeting to review of mining activities in the state.
"The process of allotting crushers is time-consuming and has to go through numerous procedural formalities including NoCs from environment, panchayats, forest clearances and other line departments. The development activities, particularly construction of roads come to a halt," said Singh.

Instructions were issued to maintain live registers and online registration of the applicants who apply for setting-up the crushers and to submit monthly report to the chief minister's office.
SDMs will have to give report in a time-bound manner concerning the setting up of stone crushers.
As of now, 150 legal stone crushers are operational in the state.

In another meeting pertaining to forest clearance by the forest department, Singh directed the forest department to adopt pro-active approach and guide the concerned departments and facilitate them in getting forest clearance.
Singh said that 13 specific developmental activities could be carried out in forest area to the extent of one hectare.

"The forest land could be diverted for the clearance of development projects upto one hectare and the concerned Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) should be proactive enough to do the needful so that development activities are carried out benefitting the people at large," he said.