islamabad-Blasting, quarrying and stone crushing in Margalla Hills have turned the beautiful landscape into terrible terrain, but owners of stone crushing plants still claim that their industry is not damaging the environment and residential sites there.

There are around 350 stone crushing plants installed in Margalla Hills, about 30 kilometres west of Islamabad on Grand Trunk (GT) Road.

The Supreme Court had banned the crushing plants from further blasting and quarrying after the issue was raised by environmentalists and the media. It was highlighted that this industry is causing damage to the National Park.

But Syed Sibat-al-Hassan, owner of Kazmi Aggregate Stone argues that Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) is about 1,000 meters away from crushing area, while crush plants are working in Rawalpindi district. “We are not satisfied with the court’s decision. They must think how many persons will become unemployed in the area,” he said.

Meanwhile, environmentalist Vaqar Zakriya, who spent 25 years for the protection of national parks in the country, rejects this argument, saying cement and stone crushing industry have completely destroyed the National Park.

According to him, although the owners of crushing plants are right up to some extent that their machines are installed away from the territory of the National Park, yet the impact of blasting has severely affected the beauty of the park and wildlife there.

“It is similar to dropping the atomic bomb on the border and then justifying the decision,” he further said. He also stated that the industry owners have not only violated from the land given to them on lease but also have encroached the in the area of the National Park.

Even after the irrecoverable damage given to the hills by blasting, the stone crushing industry is also not aware of the legality of their business in this area.

According to Islamabad Wildlife Ordinance, not only mining but ground digging is also prohibited in the area of the national park.

However, another crush machine owner stated that the government never directed the industry owners about any such law. He even said, “No such law exists.”

While Vaqar Zakriya said, “No one is allowed to even furrow or build a residence in the area of the National Park.”

The first lease in the area was given in 1980 to a cement factory for twenty years which was later extended.

Human rights groups state that all this illegal activity started after this allotment to the cement factory.

Murad Khan, a lawyer said, “People rushed to get leases in this area soon after that. It was severe negligence on part of the government.”

According to Hasan, hundreds and thousands of people are linked with this industry and every single labourer is earning Rs 20,000 to 30,000 monthly from here.

He added on every single plant, approximately three machines are used for crushing and each machine requires 35 to 40 labourers to operate it.

“Plant owners can go and install their machinery anywhere, but what will the labourers do?” he further said.

On the other side, environment protection bodies are not convinced with the reason of unemployment. According to them, employment doesn’t mean that anybody is allowed to destroy the environment.

“There is a range of mountain along motorways and the government should settle them there,” said Zakriya. He also stated that lime stone can be found anywhere.

Tabarak Ali, who spent 20 years in crush supplying business, told The Nation that before the ban, he was sending eight to ten vehicles daily from Kashmir to Lahore but now there is no work left here. According to him, “The government should shift the park from here. Crushing plants were working here before it was declared National Park.”

Zakriya also informed The Nation that there is no wildlife left in the National Park now because of blasting in the area. He said the owners of crushing plants are saving millions of rupees only from transportation; they don’t want to move from here.

- The writer is a freelance contributor.