SHIMOGA: The state government has promulgated The Karnataka Regulation of Stone Crushers Ordinance- 2011 to provide regulations of stone crushers and identify safer zones for locating stone-crushing units, which have been causing pollution in the state.Governor H R Bhardwaj signed the Bill on September 6 and the government issued Gazette notification on September 7 effecting the Bill, a copy of which is available with Express.Considering the need for a legislation to check widespread pollution caused by the stone-crushing units in the state, the HC, in its order on July 10, 1998, had directed the state to formulate a policy to regulate business relating to crushing of stones by prescribing reasonable conditions.The conditions included guidelines, licenses and their periodical renewals.The court also directed the government to bring out a policy and identify safer zones for locating stonecrushing units.The state Cabinet had approved the Bill on August 18, 2011 and sent it to the Governor for promulgation.The court had put forth certain guidelines like safer zones should be two km away from the national highways, habitats, temples, schools and rivers, 1.5 km from the state highways and more.However, the government argued that it is impractical to implement the guidelines in letter and spirit.It then incorporated the court guidelines with some relaxation in the Bill, in March 2011.There are 2,266 authorised stone-crushing units in the state, of which 787 are located within the quarry lease area, the remainder operate outside lease area.
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