LAHORE, June 27: Punjab Environment Protection Department on Wednesday sealed a board-making mills located on Hudiara drain for causing pollution. The environment protection order issued by district officer Tariq Zaman Khan says it has been found the unit was established in violation of the provisions of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001 and section 12 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.

The unit was discharging untreated waste water while it had no adequate and safe mechanism for effluent disposal, the order read.

It was also damaging the physical environment of the area by emitting carbon dust and ashes of rice husk fuel, severely affecting neighbouring entities, it added.

The land owner, Sheikh Sikandar Zulqarnain, and owner of Sheikh Board Mills Malik Tanveer have been given 30 days to appeal before the district coordination officer against sealing of the unit.

Mr Khan says the action has been taken on public complaints and after confirming the offences through a survey conducted by the department officials. —Staff Reporter