ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday banned quarrying and stone crushing at National Park and buffer zones, established by the KP government, in Margalla Hills.
The ban came during the hearing of the case as chairman CDA Amir Ahmed and Mayor appeared before the court.
Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heading a two-judge bench which heard suo moto regarding blasting and crushing of Margalla Hills, said there is the situation in many areas where lease had expired in 2010 or 2011 but still mining is going on.
“It seems CDA has no control over their employees and clerk seems more powerful then chairman. Why the city is being spread out without any planning. On which Chairman CDA told the court that sector I-9 and I-10 are included in master industrial zone plan while six steel industries are working on the moment,” on which CJ remarked the industries being polluted the city should be shut down, CJ said.
The chief justice said neither these companies nor anyone else should be given mining lease of Margalla Hills.
It may be mentioned here that the stone crushers are polluting the environment and created health problems for the local residents.
As per a survey of Environment Protection Agency-Punjab (EPA-Punjab) conducted last year, more than 200 stone crushing machines have been installed on Margalla Hills in the jurisdiction of Rawalpindi district.
Visit News Source webpage Abb Takk