Stone-crushing plants openly defy court orders

Locals of Suraj Gali and adjacent areas said that stone-crushing plants in the area continue to operate in violation of the Supreme Court’s order.

They said that the court orders for the closure of the crushing plant have been ignored by owners, who continue to operate with the alleged backing of local district officials.

Earlier, a three-member commission appointed by the Supreme Court for the prevention of illegal stone crushing visited a plant set up in the suburbs of Suraj Gali. The commission issued instructions to reduce the blasting to a minimum level, it keeping in mind the sufferings of the local population caused by heavy blasting and dust.

Local sources said that during the visit, the commission members said that the Suraj Gully area was where dozens of crush plants existed. It has been proposed to change the one-kilometer rules around the crushing plant. The commission said that the first lease of the land has been asked to be limited to the allotment so that no more crushing plants can be built in the area. The commission issued a warning to the crushing plant owners for heavy blasting. A few days ago, due to the heavy blasting at the crushing plant, stones fell in the fields and houses, the locals said.

The commission has issued strict instructions to completely desist from life-threatening heavy blasting.

A local farmer complained to the commission members that for the past several years, the poisonous water of a crushing plant has been seeping into his field, which was damaging his crop.

Meanwhile, a large number of locals of several areas including Dera Khanpur, Pind Gujran, Rani Wah and other areas staged a protest and blocked the road and as a result, the commission members remained stuck in the middle of the road for hours.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners in their hands. They raised slogans against the crushing plant mafia.

Sources said that the crushing plats openly violate the orders of the Supreme Court and carry out heavy blasting, which results in large flying stones falling on houses of adjoining communities.

According to sources, the heavy stones flying from the blasting also hit the pole of the main transmission line of 11000kv, causing a pole to fall and the main heavy wires to break. The electricity in the area could not be restored for 12 hours due and the citizens faced difficulties.

The sources said that the district administration and related departments were helpless in influential crushing plant owners. The sources said that no department can dare to implement the court orders and the commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2023.