The joint inquiry team formed on the directions of the apex court has found that serious lapses/illegalities/irregularities were committed by the departments concerned during the process of setting up of cement factories in Chakwal.
The report found Major Fayyaz Bashir (retd), ex-secretary Industries Department, Muhammad Iqbal Sheikh, ex-secretary Environment Department, Ch Ahmed Nadeem, then Director (EPA) Environment Department, Muhammad Azam Saleem, then DCO Chakwal, Sardar Ghulam Abbas Khan, ex-district nazim Chakwal, Malik Hafeez-ur-Rehman, ex-tehshil nazim Choa Saidan Shah, Pir Sajid Hussain Karooli, ex-tehsil nazim Kalar Kahar, Irshad Ali Khokhar, ex-director Small Mines Assistance/Tiles, Punjab, and Ahmed Alam Waseem, ex-LAC Industries Department responsible for extending undue favour and causing lapses in the process of issuance of NOCs and non-fulfilling the codal formalities for setting up the cement factories in district Chakwal.
The team submitted a report in the apex court that proposed criminal action/imposition of fine/penalty/recovery against CEO DG Khan Cement Factory and CEO Bestway Cement Factories, Kala Kahar, district Chakwal.
The apex court on 14-09-2018 had directed for conducting an inquiry whether any lapse occurred or favouritism was shown by the concerned officer of the Industry Department, in setting up of three cement industries in Chakwal. The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab was ordered to conduct the inquiry and submit a report to this court.
The ACE noted that it is indicative of the fact that negative areas were not declared in time by the district government Chakwal and Industries Department. Therefore DG Khan Cement and Bestway Cement companies were facilitated in establishing the said industries during 2003 to 2008. The report also mentioned that most of the districts of the Punjab had declared their negative areas up to 2005-06 as per directions/location policy of Industries Department except district Chakwal, which was deliberately delayed due to unnecessary communication and this provided space to the alleged factory owners for setting up of cement plants.
The report stated that as envisaged in Sections 11, 12 and 16 of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997 and rules/policy of Review of Initial Environmental Examination and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2000, the NOC/departmental approval was required to be issued to the application after fulfilling the said codal formalities/rules.
The record reveals that the EIA report submitted by DG Khan and Bestway Cement Factories were not reviewed by Environment Department, which is mandatory as mentioned in Section 11 of the 'Review of Initial Environmental Examination and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2000.'
The Punjab Mines and Mineral Department issued leases to Bestway and DG Khan Cement factories in 2003-04 without open auction and as reported by the department, they did not issue formal NOC as per record.