Trees' cutting, mining and crushing: Punjab submits report to SC on activities at Margalla Hills

ISLAMBAD: The Punjab Mines and Minerals Department on Friday submitted its report in the Supreme Court about cutting of trees, mining, and crushing activities at the Margalla Hills.

The report stated that the federal government vide notification, 3(15)/6-CDA-III dated 27-04-1980, declared the area of Margalla Hills, facing Islamabad city, a national park. It said, in order to preserve the environment and eco-system, the then prime minister on 20-04-1991 issued a directive that the environment hazards being caused by quarrying within the area of the national park closer to Islamabad should be stopped, and appropriate action should be taken by all the concerned authorities.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) was directed to physically and clearly demarcate the boundaries of the national park, and strictly enforce the law for its preservation.

Pursuant to the prime minister's direction, the Punjab government through notification dated 22-06-2001, declared an area of 1,000 yards from the ICT boundaries extending towards Rawalpindi district as a buffer zone/prohibited area for mining and crushing of minerals of any kind for preservation of the environment.

After the prime minister's directive dated 20-04-1991, 109 blocks of limestone falling in buffer zone, district Rawalpindi were deleted from grant of lease for mining.

After leaving buffer zone of one kilometre from ICT boundary, in Rawalpindi district mining and crushing were allowed at an isolated hillock near Taxila through auction during 1992-1997, 1999-2004, and 2004-2009.

In order to adopt a uniform policy for grant of limestone mining leases in the Punjab, a summary was initiated by the Mines and Minerals Department to the then chief minister of Punjab on 04-06-2009.

The chief minister, vide his orders dated 30-07-2009, while approving the departmental proposals, imposed complete ban on mining, crushing and blasting activities falling in tehsil Taxila, Rawalpindi district.

However, on account of judicial intervention, work of lessees having valid leases was allowed to be continued till the leased period.

Later on, to resolve the issues of scarcity of limestone crush for mega projects in the province, especially for projects of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the chief minister Punjab constituted a steering committee under the chairmanship of Punjab law minister on 05-08-2015.

The committee recommended to lift ban imposed on mining/blasting/crushing in Margalla Hils near Taxila, so that legal mining leases of limestone outside buffer zone may be auctioned.

Eventually the ban was lifted in 2016. Accordingly, 53 leases of new blocks of limestone were prepared by the Mines and Minerals Department comprising isolated hillocks near Taxila, Rawalpindi district.

The Supreme Court taking notice of cutting of trees in various parts of Margalla Hills falling within the territorial boundaries of the ICT, KPT and Punjab initiated suo moto proceedings.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020