ABBOTTABAD: The district administration has sealed over 30 stone crushing plants for creating environmental pollution in the city areas.

Special teams headed by assistant commissioner, Abbottabad, Ahsan Ehsan along with officials of the environment and mining departments and the police sealed the crushing plants in Ghumawan area, on Thandiyani Road, near Ilyasi Masjid, Sherwan and other localities.

The officials said the sealed plants were polluting the city’s environment as clouds of dust remained hung in the air, causing problems for the residents. They said excessive blasting at the crushing plants had caused cracks in the nearby houses.

Meanwhile, Cantonment Board Abbottabad authorities have issued final deadline to all the private educational institutions, beauty parlours, banks, property dealers, car showrooms and other business concerns operating in the residential areas to wind up their operations within seven days, or have their premises sealed.

The notice said that the Supreme Court had ordered on June 27, 2018 all the commercial activities in the cantonment’s residential areas should be wound up by Dec 31, 2021.

However, the owners and principals of over 40 private schools and colleges operating in the cantonment area have asked the board authorities to withdraw the notices as owners of at least 20 schools and colleges had constructed their own buildings.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2021