Illegal stone crushing: Govt enforces a ban on quarrying

Apex court informs K-P govt of cancellation of mining, crushing leases

ISLAMABAD: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) law officer informed the apex court, on Friday, that the provincial government has cancelled mining and crushing leases in the Lora region of Abbottabad District .

K-P Additional Advocate Waqar Ahmed said that the government has enforced a complete ban on crushing and mining in Abbottabad and Lora region.

Notwithstanding, he added that the government could not ban these activities in the whole province.

Ahmed said that anyone who is interested in the mining or crushing must first take permission from the environmental agency.

The chief justice remarked that if anyone violates the environmental laws then action should be taken against him.

The two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Anwar Jamali, was hearing the Suo Motu case regarding illegal stoning crushing, mining and the cutting of trees at Margalla Hills.

Responding to a court query, the AAG K-P said it is not viable to impose a ban on crushing or mining in the whole province, whereas no complaint about environmental pollution has been received so far.

The bench observed how a complaint would be launched about pollution when the institution and violators are in connivance.

The chief justice remarked that if government institutions perform their functions in accordance with the law, there would be no need to take suo motu notice of many issues.

The CJP said in many cases leases had expired in 2010 but the mining operations were prevalent, despite the leases not being renewed.

Jamali added that in this situation instead of the money going into the national exchequer, it is going into the pockets of the officials and that- when everything is done in connivance so who would complain.

Jamali inquired what action the provincial government had taken against those who continued mining and crushing after the expiry of their leases.

He said that without the renewal of the leases massive losses were being caused to the national exchequer. The court said the ban should remain intact for crushing and mining in Lora region.

The court directed the K-P government to submit a report pertaining to details of stone crushing and mining units, which are reportedly operative even after their lease had been terminated or matured.

Turning down the secretary mineral development’s report in the matter, the bench asked the provincial government to ensure that every crushing or mining unit should retain a no
objection certificate from the minerals development of the province from henceforth.

The hearing was adjourned till the last week of August.

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