Green bench orders: Court stops operations at chemicals manufacturing company

LAHORE:

A green bench of Lahore High Court on Wednesday ordered closure of a chemicals manufacturing company in Multan on a petition moved by the Environment Protection Department.

Assistant Advocate General Anwaar Hussain told the court that the EPA had directed South Chemicals (Pvt) Limited in April 2012 to meet the department’s requirements for environment protection. He said the company had not complied with the directions. He said the department issued a notice to the company in June 2012 and its permit was cancelled in July 2013. He said South Chemicals had challenged the cancellation of the permit in an environmental protection tribunal.

Hussain said the tribunal had set aside the department’s decision and restored the company in May 2014.

The counsel said the company had not been taking steps for environment protection because of which pollution had increased in the area. He said scores of residents had complained about this.

After hearing the arguments, the bench comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Shujat Ali Khan stopped the company from operating till further notice and issued notices to the respondents.

The court directed the police to assist the department in enforcement of the court order.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th,  2016.