PESHAWAR, Feb 8: The NWFP Environmental Tribunal has ordered closure of four marble factories for violation of National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS) by discharging hazardous wastes.

This was disclosed by Director General Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of the NWFP Dr Hamad Agha while talking to newsmen.

Mr Agha said the federal government has established environmental tribunals in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and the NWFP to carry out trial of all those violating NEQS, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Protection Order.

The EPA NWFP, he said regularly carries out monitoring of industrial discharge in the NWFP, collects samples and analyzes them. Legal notices, he continued, were issued to those who violate NEQS under section 16 of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997.

Mr Agha said industries against whom sealing orders have been issued were located in Peshawar district on Warsak road and Mathra Police Station has been approached for the implementation of the tribunal order.

He said so far 41 cases have been submitted to environmental tribunal out of which hearing of 30 cases were held and some were disposed of. Besides, he said 31 cases were in the pipeline.

The tribunal had imposed fine of Rs10,000 to 20,000 on some factories and warned them that if the violation of NEQS continues, the fine will be enhanced up to Rs100,000 along with two years’ imprisonment.—APP