LAHORE Due to non-compliance with environmental standards by stone crushers across the province, the Punjab Environment Protection Department has decided to take a strict action against hundreds of such units. Sources in EPD said over 354 stone crushers were working across the province. They said Sargodha region has been recognised as largest stone crushing market because there are numerous stone quarrying sites in Karhana Hills. The stone is acquired from hills through controlled blasting. The business has also expanded in other location like Dina, Sakhi Sarwar and Margla, sources claimed, adding hundreds of stone crushing units are increasing at 25-km from Sargodha along the sides of Faisalabad-Sargodha Road and Sillanwali-Sargodha Road. Sources said the stone crushing units are scattered in the area and they are adversely affecting the environment of dozens of villages where thousands of people are residing. A senior official of EPD said the department filed a total of 325 complaints in Punjab Environmental Tribunal for punishment under Section 17 of act ibid. Secretary Environment also visited the stone crushing industry in 2013 and directed for conducting a fresh survey. In compliance with the directives, a fresh survey was also conducted and GPS coordinates have also been recorded for further processing. He said after the recent survey across Sargodha district, the department initiated legal proceedings against all crushers existing there. It is evident from the survey that 354 stone crushers were operational in violation of provisions of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (Amended in 2012) due to dust emissions, noise pollution and working without securing mandatory environmental protection measures. Dr Iqbal Muhammad Chauhan, Secretary Environment, Punjab also issued instructions to the district officer (Environment) in a meeting to initiate proceedings under Section 16 of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (Amended - 2012) against all those defaulters, who have not complied with the directives / decision of the Punjab Environmental Tribunal. Dr Iqbal Muhammad Chauhan directed the legal wing of the Environmental Protection Agency, Punjab to proceed against all those defaulters, whose cases are under trial in the tribunal but still they are polluting the environment. Naseemur Rehman, Director, EIA EPD, while talking to The News said stone crushing industry is an important industrial sector in the country. Over the last many years, the construction sector has been registering strong growth rates in the range of 7-8pc of national economy. The crushed stone is used as raw material for various construction activities, construction of roads, bridges, buildings and likewise developmental activities. Giving background of the issue, he said in the year 2000, Shama Welfare Society, Sargodha moved a complaint through District Administration for shifting of stone crushing industry away from Chak 119/SB Tehsil Sillanwali District Sargodha. He said a team of Assistant Director (Environment), Sargodha inspected the areas and reported to EPA, Punjab that 32 stone crushing units were in operation and polluting the environment due to excessive noise, dust and air pollution. Naseem said after observing due legal course EPA filed complaints against the units in year 2002-03 in the tribunal at Lahore. On proceedings of the tribunal, Stone Crushers Association, Sargodha defended the cases on behalf of respondents. Consequently, on request of the association, the tribunal directed the EPA for provision of amicable solution for dust control. He said EPA, Punjab awarded a project to a consultant for fabrication and installation of a model dust controlling system on a selected crusher as model. The association agreed to replicate the solution on every crusher. Consultant installed the solution on Tabbasum Stone Crusher and demonstrated its function to all concerned in year 2006-07. The association showed lethargy in adoption of this solution due to cost constraints and challenging its efficacy. Sources said Punjab Environmental Tribunal took cognizance of environmental complaints and summoned the respondents at Lahore for trial. It was hard to investigate the violating crushers because they were deliberately avoiding from becoming part of proceedings. On many occasions they refused to give information to the District Officer (Environment) about land ownership, possession, year of establishment, real title of the unit and refused to receive the notice. The tribunal also held camps at Sargodha three times in 2012-13 for ease and conveyance of the responding units. Sources claimed that the owners of responding unit refused collectively many times to appear before learned tribunal and even the situation got tense and problem of law and order was created by respondents and local police intervened for dispersing the gathering. Ultimately, learned tribunal decided number of cases, convicted the respondents by imposing the fine ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 and issued directions (Order dated 18.12.2012 in Complaint 57/2012) to every accused for taking remedial measures. The remedial measures include providing of hoods for crushing, screening and classification operations, covering conveyor belts with semi-circular Eco Friendly sheets, providing dust suppression system by water spray through nozzles at key dust generating points/locations to restrain fine particulate matter from becoming airborne, regular cleaning and wetting of the ground within premises of the plant and adequate plantation all along the periphery/premises of the plant and constructing of wind breaking wall in predominant wind direction. EPD officials said several meetings had been arranged with Crushers Association for adoption of dust controlling technology and implementation of directions of the tribunal in letter and spirit for abatement of air pollution but in vain. Legal wing of EPA has also forwarded the judgment sheets to District Officer (Environment) concerned for compliance verification and also delegated the powers to him under section 16 of act ibid for initiating proceeding against defaulting units.
