How cement factory impacts Malakand’s environment

PHC’s green bench directs EPA to submit assessment reports

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to submit the environmental impact reports of setting up cement factories in the Palai area of Malakand division.

Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) had taken notice of the adverse impact to the environment by the factories as he heard a case relating to the construction of the marble city in Buner.

He remarked that the area is known for its natural beauty and asked the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government to inform the court where they were going to set up the cement factory and what efforts would be made to protect the environment.

The case was finally taken up by the green bench of PHC comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ijaz Anwar and directed the respondents to submit detailed reports till January 11, 2018.

The court also directed the K-P Environment Protection Agency (EPA) director general to brief about the environmental issues raised by the establishment of the cement industry in Kohat.

Naeem Bukhari, the counsel for Fecto Cement, told the court the factory was being set up as per the new investment policy of the government.

“It is $300 million investment which will also create 5,000 jobs during construction.”

However, the court told him that they were not referring to these issues.

Bukhari also argued over the high court’s jurisdiction to take suo motu over the matter, calling it ‘excess of jurisdiction’.

However, PHC Chief Justice Afridi remarked that the green bench of the PHC deals with all matters relating to the environment.

Meanwhile, EPA DG Bashir Khan told the bench that they have visited the site and have written a letter to the factory’s owner advising him that under the K-P Environment Protection Act 2014, it was necessary to submit an Environment Assessment Report (EIA) before setting up the industry.

“They have submitted the requirement [EIA report] on November 22. ,” Bashir told the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2017.