ISLAMABAD As the Margalla hills are generally areas of incredible scenic beauty, they are also environmentally sensitive. And it doesnt take much to disrupt the balance of their natural environment.
Stone crushers have spelled doom for the environment - rendering horizons ugly and contributing to irreversible environmental degeneration.
Consistent quarrying and crushing activities in the Margallas have led to concerns for potential environmental damage to these beautiful natural regions, Dawn investigation revealed.
Environmentalists fear that even smallest changes can bring significant impacts, even loss of species dwelling within the dark voids of the terrain.
Starting from the bulges that form the Margalla range on both sides of G.T. Road and continuing across is the ugly trade of drilling, blasting, crushing and trucking stones that has long-term negative impact on the environment if not controlled.
As many as 225 stone crushers in Punjab and the capital area strike hard at bulky stones, breaking them to sizeable pebbles ready for sale. According to the Punjab Mines and Minerals Department, 1,000 to 1,500 trucks carry gravels out of the Margallas to as far destinations as Lahore and Karachi.
More than 100 stone crushers are operating in the buffer zone comprising 109 blocks - scarring and mutilating towering hills.
In a recent get-together of the Margalla Hills Conservation Committee, Environment Secretary Kamran Lashari said the issue was a serious one which could only be tackled by commitment and dedication. 'We should not ignore or postpone this serious environmental issue which is causing irreversible damage to the Margallas,' he stated.
This concern was voiced after the director-general environment said five stone crushers were illegally operating in the Margalla Hill National Park while 19 were operating in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amer Ali said a total of 33 licences were issued out of which 31 expired. Two leasees - Fecto Cement and Sangjani Crushers - went to the court and obtained stay orders 18 years back and are still operating.
He said 16 stone crushers were operating in the ICT without permission. The owners were issued notices to stop operation and vacate the areas.
Apprehensive of reaction from the owners including those in the Punjab, the deputy commissioner proposed action against all illegal quarrying.
'We are taking action against the five quarrying activities in Margalla National Park within a week. But we are helpless against Fecto that has been operating for nearly two decades,' he added.
Recently, a summary was presented to the chief minister Punjab urging him to give regular status to the stone crushers operating in the buffer zone keeping in view that over 10,000 livelihoods were involved.
'But the chief minister rejected it outright. He will not extend licences nor issue new ones. The chief minister desires zero tolerance in this respect and has constituted a committee under the chief secretary to implement his decision,' said sources in the Mines and Minerals Department.
'Stone crushers operating illegally in the Margallas and another 16 in the ICT tell us how rule books are written and followed,' said artist and writer Fauzia Minallah. 'One person or an organisation cannot make a difference when high-ups, vested interests and money are involved, she added.
Margalla Hill Society chief Roedad Khan lamented how the tail of the Margallas had been disfigured for ever. 'The sights bring tears to your eyes. And it's alarming how Fecto Cement is quarrying in the ICT destroying our hills. We have fought to stop stone crushing in Kalinjar and Shahdarah valleys and we will not rest until we stop them all,' she said.
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