TAXILA: The provincial government on Saturday decided to launch operation against as many as 169 illegal stone crushers, who have been quarrying scenic Margalla hills for the last many years.

The decision was taken at a meeting, which was attended by the officials of the provincial government including Rawalpindi commissioner Zahid Saeed, provincial minister for minerals and environment department.

Though the lease of the stone crushers expired in 2006, they were quarrying at the Margalla hills by using influence and political pressure.

The officials decided to sever electricity as a first step and then demolish the stone crushing plants.

Consistent quarrying at the Margallas has damaged the environment of the area. Starting from the Nicholson Monument on G.T. Road, the mountainous range continues to the left and disappears in the hazy atmosphere.

In 2006, the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (EPA) had declared the areas around the Nicholson Monument a no-crushing zone.

The same year the provincial government decided to shift all the stone crushers from Margalla hills to other areas by February 2010 but they could not be removed because of the influence the powerful stone crushing mafia enjoys with those who matter.

As a result, the stone crushers continued to play havoc with the environment of the area, as the authorities concerned could not withstand political pressure.

The sources said that the government would first issue notices to those stone crushers, whose lease had expired almost three years back.

In the second phase their electricity connections would be cut and in third phase full-fledged operation would be launched which include demolition of plants and confiscation of the machinery.

An official of the mineral department on condition of animosity said at present only 30 stone crushers operating legal and their lease would expire in June 2015.