PESHAWAR, May 8: The NWFP environmental tribunal on Monday put on notice 11 industrial concerns charged with polluting the environment. The tribunal chaired by Justice Abdur Rauf Lughmani and Mr Syed Wajahat Ali Shah as its member (legal) fixed May 27 for next hearing, with directives to the accused to ensure their appearance.

Cases have been filed against the concerns by the director-general of the provincial Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The notices have been issued to Zaman Steel Works, Atta Mohammad Baitul Raza Steel Works, Qadir Steel Works, Waseem Abbas Steel Works, Wajid Sarhad Steel Works, Ajmal Insaaf Steel Works, Jawed Saw Machine and Bashir Saw Machine in Mardan district; Fauji Cornflakes on Swabi road, Jehangir (Nowshera); and Denia Pakistan Limited and AJ Textile Mills in Gadoon Amazai of the Swabi district.

The units were charged with contravention of different provisions of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.

The EPA has charged them with polluting the environment by not maintaining the environment standards in their concerns.