ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) took action against the stone crushers operating in and around Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
According to a press release issued on Friday, 12 stone crushing operators, operating 17 machines, were issued notices and served with Environmental Protection Order under section 16 of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997. Their machines were also disabled.
In the recent past, on the instructions of federal Minister of Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Pak-EPA conducted an air pollution monitoring study of the area where stone crushers were active.
The study found that the total suspended particulate matter in these areas was about 20,000 ug/m3, which is considerably higher than the permissible limit according to the National Environmental Quality Standards of Pakistan is 500 ug/m3.
Pak-EPA, according to the press release, took note of the situation and considered it essential to stop the hazardous stone-crushing activity.
Since such an act would heavily impact the economics of crushing machine
operators, severe resistance was expected, said the press release.
All the stakeholders, including district administration, local police, CDA, IESCO, Department of Industries and Mines & Minerals were consulted and a joint operation for the immediate closure of the stone crushers was planned.
Finally this operation was executed on Friday by Pak-EPA with assistance from ICT Administration, Police, CDA Enforcement Wing and CDA Environment Wing, ICT Department of Mines and Minerals and IESCO.
The press release said that the operation was a success and that all machines were either demolished or badly damaged.
A monitoring team comprising members of Pak-EPA members, Environment Wing of CDA and Enforcement Wing of CDA has been established to ensure that the 17 crushing machines are never used again.
The press release added that Pak-EPA had also requested IESCO to disconnect the electricity supply to these crushers.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2010.
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