LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Monday restrained Bestway Cement Factory from using water of natural pond and directed the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct random visits of the factory to check whether the factory controlled air pollution caused by its chimneys.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that natural resources could not be taken into private ownership. The chief justice also warned owner of the pond’s land of lodging a case of water theft. The land owner stated that he inherited the pond from his forefathers since 1940.

However, the deputy commissioner of Jhelum told the court that the landowner was allowed to use the pond’s water for irrigation purpose only and he could not sell it.

Chief Justice Nisar observed that the court could not compromise on water issue and also hinted at issuing notices to bottled water manufacturing companies to explain their resources for producing so-called mineral water.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2018