HARIPUR: Due to serious environmental contamination, the Supreme Court has mandated the immediate closure of three stone-crushing facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Following the July 11 court hearing over the stone-crushing factories at Suraj Gali, Haripur, this directive was given in writing.
Three stone crushers in KP must be shut down right now due to serious environmental contamination, according to a report that was turned in to the court. Nonetheless, it was mentioned that there are more than 900 stone-crushing facilities in the province, therefore the problem goes beyond just three facilities.
The assignment to assess these plants has been given to the Provincial Environmental Protection Agency. The Supreme Court underlined that stone-crushing facilities that disobey pollution-related regulations ought to face consequences. In addition, the court ordered both the federal and provincial governments to require progress reports from each and to revise and renew their air pollution legislation.
The matter will be heard again during the first week of November. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah penned the 17-page order.
Suraj Gali locals had petitioned the court to remedy the pollution that the stone-crushing facilities were causing. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes 7 million fatalities yearly, with Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan being the most impacted nations. 22.9% of the world’s population resides in these four nations.
Pakistan is the second most polluted nation in the world, according to the Air Quality Report. The well-being of its residents, who have a fundamental right to live in a clean and healthy environment, is severely impacted by this concerning situation.
