Civil Society Expresses Concern Over Establishment Of Cement Factory In Palai, Urges Peshawar High Court To Suo Moto

The civil society organizations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have expressed grave concern over establishment of a cement factory in Palai area of Malakand, best citrus producing area of the province.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Mar, 2018 ) :The civil society organizations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have expressed grave concern over establishment of a cement factory in Palai area of Malakand, best citrus producing area of the province.

In a press statement issued here, the civil society organizations have also urged Chief Justice Peshawar High Court to take notice of the development which is a violation of ban on industrial activities in agriculture and forest land in KP.

"A suo moto action is demanded from High Court against EPA, Fecto industry and all government officials involved in awarding Environmental Impact Assessment report, in flagrant violation of environmental regulations and agricultural sustainability of KP,"Renowned for its fruit orchards specially, citrus fruit, the Palai oranges fetch the highest price in world markets,"in the the press issued.

To favor the factory owners to get relief in tax free PATA, DCO Dist Malakand has issued section 4 for procurement of 3200 kanal of land in violation of the ban on industrial activities in agricultural and forest land in KP, alleges civil society organizations.

Palai village (10,000 populatoin) is 500 meter Away from the proposed factory site.

Other villages, namely , Zoormandi , Sher Khana, Jalalpur, Bazdara and Moura Banda (pop 24000) are in a radius of about1- 5 KM.

Other villages of Dist Mardan, namely Kohi barmawal, Ghazi baba, Qasamay, Sarobay, Tazagram and kharki having roughly population of 30000 are in a radius of 3-4kms.The civil society office bearers argued that around 24000 kanals of agricultural Palai villages are irrigated by Baizai irrigation scheme and tube wells.

Climate change has already degraded the ground aquifers. A water intensive industry will totally deplete the existing underground water reserves, rendering impossible future agriculture activities.

After setting up of a cement plant, gaseous emissions carbon dioxide and monoxide shall endanger both human and animal life. Besides, sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide shall also destroy crops and fruit growing orchards.

The industrial pollution of quarrying activity involving limestone is the source of TB, cough and skin and eye diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease of industries. Causing breathing problems, Asthma, Chronic bronchitis, Emphysema and Bronchiactasis it leads to lung cancer, they added.