KASUR: The district administration on Wednesday sealed 21 tanneries over nonpayment of dues as well as environmental issues.

A team headed by Assistant Commissioner Amna Rafiq raided Din Gar and Niaz Nagar area and sealed 21 tanneries for defaulting on dues of Kasur Tanneries Waste Management Authorities (KTWMA) and environmental issues.

The defaulter factories included Bilal Waqar Tannery, Haji Ishaq Tannery, Mirza Younas Tannery, Haji Aslam Tannery, Sunshine Tannery, Asad Tannery, Makhan Tannery, Grace International, Mistri Shafi Tannery, Rang Elahi Tannery, Ghousia Tannery, Master Barkat Tannery, Baoo Tannery, Haji Munir Tannery, Saleem Diya Tannery, Amanat Tannery and Rafiq Tannery.

According to AC Amna, the tannery owners had been repeatedly served notices, but in vain. She said the sealed tanneries had collectively defaulted on Rs5 million. She said the operation against defaulters and those violating environmental rules would continue without any discrimination.

Tannery owners were bound to pay the waste management authorities as per the amount of discharged water from leather manufacturing units that is supposed to be treated at the KTWMA treatment plant.

However the owners were reluctant to pay the amount; they claimed the polluted water was discharged into the Sutlej without being treated.

ACCIDENT: Two youth died in a road accident on Wednesday near the bypass at Deepalpur Road.

Shahbaz and his friend Omar were on their way to Basti Sabri from Raiwind Road. Near the bypass roundabout, their motorcycle hit a donkey cart.

Shahbaz and Omar suffered serious injuries and were rushed to the DHQ Hospital but both died on the way.

Police are looking into the matter.

Published in Dawn October 20th, 2016