PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has taken a legal action against 212 stone crushing units throughout the province in line with the Supreme Court orders.

A statement issued here said the environment department on Thursday informed a meeting that the action, including closure and fine, had been taken against 212 stone crushing units in the province.

It said the government had initiated stern measures to prevent diseases and silicosis caused by dust emissions from stone and marble crushing units in the province.

The Supreme Court had directed the provincial governments to take measures against hazardous emissions by stone crushing and grinding units in the province along with formulating mechanism for implementation of health and safety laws by detecting occupational hazards, reducing risk and creating healthy working environment at workplaces.

UAN on the cards for workers to report problems

The statement said the government had formed a core committee under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary and consisting of members from labour, environment, information, health, social security departments on the matter.

According to Mohammad Anwar, director general for the Employees Social Security Institution, the crushing of stone results in dust pollution and that its continuous inhalation damages of lungs.

He said most dust was produced by stone crushing units, cement factories, textile mills, cosmetic manufacturing units, and clay and glass manufacturing units.

“The dust produced from these units mainly consist of silica which form a permanent layer inside the lungs causing silicosis which results in hepatitis, joint diseases and lung cancer,” he said.

The labour department informed the committee that a Universal Access Number would be established soon for workers and labourers in the stone and marble crushing sector to report their working conditions and related problems.

The mines and minerals department said the data regarding all workers of the mining sector was being compiled.

“So far, the data of more than 5000 employees has been compiled and the process will be completed soon,” an official said.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Marble industries from Buner, who were directed to take prompt measures to avoid pollution of water streams by disposing waste water in the streams.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2018