Javed Ahmad Beigh, noted social & political activist and human rights activist, who recently represented India at the UN Human Rights Conference in Geneva, Switzerland welcomed a recent arrest by J&K Anti Corruption Bureau of Dr. Bilquees Ara Siddiqui, Scientist-B of State Pollution Control Board, Srinagar for demanding and accepting bribes of Rs 5,000.
Mr.Beigh said that everyone knows about the role of Ms. Siddiqui’s department in issuing NOC’s to illegal and unauthorised Brick Kilns established in last three decades all across Kashmir especially across district Budgam at the cost of highly fertile agriculture land especially natural Karewa of district Budgam.
Mr. Beigh added that he is surprised and rather shocked to see how white collar criminals misuse their official positions and destroy very basic and fundamental fibre of these important departments.
Mr. Beigh further added that he and many like minded personalities have been very vocal against the mushrooming of illegal and unauthorised Brick Kilns in district Budgam for more than 15 years and he has found that some government officers like Ms. Siddiqui have been helping brick kilns mafia by taking hefty amounts as bribes.
Mr. Beigh also said that in the past many government officials especially Pathwaris were caught red handed by the J&K Unit of Anti Corruption Bureau and later they were again given entry to their respective departments and they once again did the same. This shouldn’t have been done by the J&K Administration.
Mr. Beigh also reiterated that there are hundreds of brick kilns operational in district Budgam in total violation of Land Revenue Act ( LRA ) and Brick Kilns Regulations Act and are operating without proper documentation and are further regularly and continuously destroying hundreds and thousands of Kanals of agriculture, horticulture land, destroying the very flora and fauna of our ecosystem, destroying the fresh and clean air , destroying our water bodies , destroying our local agriculture & horticulture production, destroying our natural minerals, destroying our roads and disturbing our peace of mind.
Mr. Beigh also said that hundreds and thousands of Walnuts trees are cut down every year in Budgam district to be burnt in these brick kilns and that Kashmir Valley is losing this precious organic fruit to these illegal and unauthorised brick kilns.
Mr. Beigh further added that illegal and unauthorised brick kilns use a huge chunk of electricity without proper authorization even when whole Kashmir is grappling with electricity crisis due to huge electricity deficit.
He said that everyone knows how hundreds and thousands of agriculture land is being destroyed and made barren land by these illegal and unauthorised brick kilns without any permission from authorities.
He said, “that all of this is happening because of some black sheeps in the administration.
Lastly he said that we must put an end to all these frauds done in the past and identify those involved in this and bring them to timely justice. Corrupt people like Ms. Siddiqui and her accomplices and all those involved in these kinds of frauds should be given exemplary punishment to set an example.That’s what Naya Kashmir demands.
