Rocky issue: SC wants govt to regulate stone crushing

Suo motu hearing also reveals over half of stone crushing units unlicensed.


Hasnaat Malik April 14, 2015
Continuous quarrying in the once lush green Margalla Hills has badly affected plant and animal habitat in the area. PHOTOS: SHAHZAD ANWAR

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has sought comprehensive plans from the federal and provincial governments regarding regulate stone-crushing businesses.

A three-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, on Tuesday resumed the hearing of a suo motu case on the application of two members of the Public Lawyer’s Front (PLF), Usama Khawar and Yahya Faird Khawaja. The applicants had moved the SC under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution, requesting it to direct the provincial governments to frame rules regulating occupations involving stone-crushing and the hazardous emission of silica dust.

Former SC chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani had taken notice of their deaths on his last day in office on July 5, 2014. The bench on Tuesday rejected federal and provincial government reports regarding steps taken to regulate stone crushing units. Justice Khawaja lamented that if the Local Government system was working in the country, aggrieved people might had approached local nazims .

Meanwhile, Additional Advocate General Punjab Razzaq Mirza has submitted a report on behalf of the Local Government secretary, wherein it is stated that the provincial government had initiated departmental disciplinary proceedings against 43 TMOs for not taking action against crushing units operating without licenses.

The report states that on March 11, the LG and CD department director general was instructed to conduct an enquiry and name the delinquent officers so that action may be initiated against them under the PEEDA Act.  It is also says that 589 units are operating in Punjab, 316 of which do not have valid licences.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government told the SC that 114 stone units are operating in the province, and notices have been issued to the owners of 71 units.

Deputy Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti, appearing on behalf of the ICT Administration, said that no stone crushing is presently operating in the capital. The hearing was adjourned till Thursday.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2015.

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