LAHORE, Nov 23: The Pakistan Environmental Law Association and residents of Kallar Kahar have moved the Supreme Court against the proposed construction of cement plants and a paper mill in Kahoon Valley of Chakwal district. They have submitted in a petition that the cement plants and a paper mill are being set up inside the Kahoon Valley without carrying out the environment impact assessment (EIA) by the authorities concerned. Under Section 12 of the Pakistan Environment Protection Act 1997, no such project can be initiated without an approved EIA.

They said the factories would play havoc with the ecology of the area. Excavation and transportation of clay will pollute the valley.

Petitioner Raja Wasim said the villages like Badshahpur, Dalwal, Arar, Dari Saidan, Tatral, Wahoola, Dulrian, Delailpur, Khairpur, Khokhar Bala and Meghal would face environmental disaster.

He said the pollution would also damage the Malot Temples located some 4km away from the proposed site of the plant.

Under the environment laws, the Environment Protection Department is an executing agency which takes into account the environmental and related social implications of a development project of any size before its launch. Besides, the EPD provides alternative ways to carry out the project in case of adverse effects on the environment.—Staff Reporter