PHC seeks record from EPA on anti-pollution steps

PESHAWAR: A special Green Bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday sought a complete record from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) it had sent to deputy commissioner of Peshawar for action and closure of various factories and industries causing pollution in the provincial metropolis.

The ‘Green Bench’ comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Syed Afsar Shah also summoned the deputy commissioner of Peshawar. He was directed to explain as to why the EPA orders on sealing of factories and industries, which did not meet the standards for minimising the pollution, were not implemented.

The bench took the notice after the director general (DG) of EPA informed the bench that agency, as per the law, was taking action against the factories and industries, which were causing pollution but it was the duty of deputy commissioners to implement the orders and seal the factories.

The bench asked the EPA DG to hold a meeting with the owners of the asphalt plants (construction material companies) to adopt the minimum standards procedure for elimination of pollution and submit report in the court today.

Two construction material companies, including Hashtnagar Construction Company and Niamatullah and Sons Construction Company, had filed a petition through lawyer Ijaz Sabi against closure of the companies by the Nowshera deputy commissioner on the orders of EPA director general.

The EPA DG informed the bench that action was taken as the companies were not fulfilling even the minimum standard procedures for the elimination of pollution. Separately, the ‘Green Bench’ re-issued notice to the provincial and local governments and Cantonment Board Peshawar, Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), secretary Transport and Mass Transit Department, director general Planning and Development Authority, deputy commissioner of Peshawar to submit reports in a writ petition filed against increasing pollution in the provincial capital.

The bench gave the respondents the last chance to submit the progress reports on elimination of pollution from the city and steps taken before the next hearing into the case. The bench said contempt of court proceeding would be initiated against them if they failed to submit the reports.

On the previous hearing, the EPA head had appeared on behalf of the respondents. He had submitted that main causes for the pollution were vehicular emission, garbage, buildings and industrial waste in the city. However, he said there were separate institutions responsible for overcoming pollution.