MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has lifted a ban on stone crushing plants in an “environmentally sensitive area” near here in a move that has shocked the region’s Environment Protection Agency (EPA).

“The government is pleased to approve revival under rules of crush plants in the light of decision of the Mines Committee dated September 28, 2017 and recommendations/report of the Communication and Works (Highways) Department dated September 29, 2017 by revoking EPA notification of April 23, 2012,” stated a notification issued by the trade, industry, labour and mineral resources secretariat.

In April 2015, EPA had declared Kamsar Nullah and its adjoining sites “environmentally sensitive” to attenuate environmental hazards posed by the stone crushing activities by around 22 plants.

Kamsar Nullah is located five kilometres north of here along the Neelum Valley road.

EPA sources said the declaration could not be undone by any administrative order. They recalled that the agency had sent a summary report to the government in 2012 in the wake of “massive and unregulated” excavation of gravel without its environmental approval and mining/excavation licences/leases from the AJK minerals department.

The extraction of stone (dolomite) from the Kamsar Nullah and adjoining sites threatened the environment and health of people in Muzaffarabad and its suburbs as a study conducted by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) in 2009-10 had revealed the presence of ‘suspended dust particles’ beyond the permissible range vis-à-vis environmental standards.

Another study by the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Nespak) had found the gravel produced from these sites unsuitable for reinforced cement concrete (RCC) construction.

Commuters and motorists had long been complaining that the dust emanating from these plants marred visibility and the gravel strewn on the road risked their lives.

The EPA sources said after the 2012 ban imposed on extraction could not be implemented successfully due to a lack of effective cooperation from the administration and police, the agency was left with no choice but to file cases against the crush plants in the environment tribunal.

The case is still sub judice but in the meanwhile the plants have resumed their operations.

The sources claimed that two months ago a former AJK chief secretary drove past these plants towards Neelum valley and on his return wrote to Chief Secretary Dr Ijaz Munir about the repercussions of extraction of roadside mountains. He recommended stoppage of the practice before it was too late.

Perhaps it was his advice that alerted Mr Munir and subsequently the administration halted the operations of the plants.

The sources said the plant owners had reportedly managed a favourable report from the C&W department on the grounds that the stoppage of their operations had created shortage of gravel in Muzaffarabad and thus affected ongoing construction work of different departments.

According to sources, concerns raised by the EPA director general, Raja Mohammad Razzaque Khan, were not made part of the report by the Mines Committee.

However, when the EPA chief was asked to sign the report he refused and instead sent a detailed dissenting note to the committee.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2017