When then CM,Bansi Lal changed portfolio of Food &Supplies Minister Rao Narbir Singh – Publication of news in Jansatta of granting licences to brick kilns in NCR against environment norms .
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana-Pawan Kumar Bansal
When then Haryana CM ,Bansi Lal has changed the portfolio of minister Rao Narbir Singh-Issue of granting licences to brick kilns in violation of environmental laws.
The incident relates during the tenure of Bansi Lal as chief minister when he was heading the state for third time in 1996!-1999 as head of Haryana Vikas Party – B.J.P. coalition Govt .Rao Narbir Singh , Food and Supplies Minister had issued licences to run about thirty brick kilns in utter violation of environment rules and despite objections by concerned officers. At that time it was difficult to get licence for running brick kilns in areas bordering Delhi due to strict court orders for implementation of environment laws. But Rao Narbir Singh was liberal and he granted licences in Rohtak and Sonipat districts bordering the national capital. Haryana Govt. has laid down certain conditions for granting licences like that it should be at reasonable distance from village and public parks etc. Applicants submitted to District Food and Civil Supplies officer who after scrutinising and ensuring that all conditions are fulfilled sent the file to District Magistrate who sanctions the licence.
Licence seekers were told by officials that since they do not fulfil the conditions, District Magistrate will reject their case even if they recommend. So they submitted applications directly to the Minister. Rao Narbir Singh.Nobel modus operandi to hoodwink the rules .Applicants stated that installing brick kiln will lead to development of the area and people will get bricks at cheaper rates. Besides a no objection certificate from the Sarpanch of the village was also attached with the application.
After getting recommendations from the Minister, licence seekers submitted their applications to District Magistrates who were verbally directed by the Minister to consider their case sympathetically and sent the file to him.Then Rohtak, Deputy Commissioner ,T.V.S.N.Prshad presently State Chief Information Commissioner refused to obey verbal orders of the minister and told him that if he is interested in calling files then , Director of the department should ask files from him .Earlier Prshad has rejected the applications stating that granting licence is not in public interest as it was against policy of Govt. and affect environment in nearby area .On asking of the Minister ,Director of the department asked the concerned District Magistrates to send files to him which were sent to Minister . And Minister ordered relaxation in rules .To save area from pollution due to smoke emanating from Chi mines he recommended that Chimneys should made pucca and their height increased so that smoke evaporates in air.
At that time this writer was posted at Rohtak with Jansatta newspaper. Talking to the writer Rao Narbir has justified his decision for granting relaxation on the ground that present conditions are impractical making it very difficult to get licence which will further result in escalation of prices of bricks and even Govt. will not get bricks for development works.
Jansatta newspaper had carried front page news titled ‘Brick Kiln Licences in violations of environment rules.”.Bansi lal got furious and he sought report from his Principal Secretary, L.M.Jain.
Narbir Singh was given dressing down by Bansi Lal and he was divested of his portfolio Food and Supplies which was given to Ganeshi Lal. Once bitten twice shy.Ganeshi Lal had told this writer that he will never call any file from District Magistrate and will sympathetically consider if any file is sent to him by District Magistrate himself in public interest .Ganeshi Lal later became governor of Odisha..