PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has directed the provincial chief secretary and other relevant officials to separately respond to a petition seeking its orders for the implementation of the relevant environmental law in the coal mining sector of Darra Adamkhel region in Kohat district.

A bench consisting of Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Abdul Shakoor issued the directives after preliminary hearing into a petition of Darra Adamkhel resident Kamran Khan Afridi, who said coal mining in his region had been contributing to environmental degradation especially polluting the water channels.

The court ordered the chief secretary, Environmental Protection Agency director general, Kohat deputy commissioner and director-general of the mines and minerals directorate to respond to the petition within 15 days.

PHC asks chief secy, other officers to file response

The petitioner’s counsel, Wali Khan Afridi, said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was set up under the KP Environmental Protection Act, 2014, for exercising powers and performing functions assigned to it under the Act.

He said that under the Act, it was the responsibility of the EPA to assist government agencies, local councils, local authorities and other persons to implement schemes for the proper disposal of wastes so as to ensure compliance with the KP Environment Quality Standards.

The lawyer pointed out that under the said Act, rules and subsequent notifications no person should discharge or emit or allow the discharge of emission of any effluent or waste or area pollution of noise, etc in excess of the KP Environment Quality Standards.

He also said that no person should discharge effluent, emission or wastes in access of load permit under the environment permit or environment approval.

Mr Wali said that the provincial government had awarded coal mining licences to citizens and the coal mining process was in progress in Darra Adamkhel area with the dumping of coal near residential areas without proper management causing environmental pollution.

He said that as most of the coal mines were situated in mountains, coal particles flew down towards water channels and streams during rainy days polluting water, which was also drank by the people.

The lawyer contended that security of life or liberty of a citizen was a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution’s Article 9.

He added that all mines were bound to follow the Act and avoid environmental pollution.

The counsel argued that it was duty of the EPA to ensure the implementation of the Act besides stopping miners from harming the environment.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2022