KP EPA serves notices to over 700 industrial units

PESHAWAR: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has launched crackdown to curb environmental pollution caused by industrial activities in various parts of the province.

As part of this drive, strict measures have been initiated against factories, marble units, steel mills, and other industrial units responsible for environmental degradation, with notices issued to more than 700 units, according to official communique here. The notices directed the concerned units to appear before EPA officials and explain why prescribed environmental pollution control protocols were not implemented.

Director General Environmental Protection Agency, Iqbal Hussain, has constituted sector inspection teams in all regional offices to ensure regular monitoring.

These teams are conducting monthly inspections of industrial units, marble factories, steel and ghee mills, brick kilns, food processing factories, and other units.

According to EPA report, more than 1,600 industrial units and other pollution-causing sites were inspected during the past two months.

The report further revealed that around 1,400 units were found violating environmental or pollution control protocols, while owners of several steel mills were also formally served notices and directed to justify their non-compliance.

The report stated that inspection teams comprising officers from all provincial zones are conducting daily inspections of food manufacturing units, marble factories, brick kilns, ghee mills, crushing plants, steel mills, and other factories, and are submitting daily reports to the Director General EPA.

DG EPA Iqbal Hussain has instructed all concerned officers to take indiscriminate action against industries and units causing environmental pollution and to ensure that no leniency is shown until such units are made environmentally compliant.

It has also been learned that in some areas, pollution-causing units have been sealed, and their owners have been issued notices regarding fines and further legal action.

According to DG EPA Iqbal Hussain, no pressure will be tolerated in this regard, and strict action will be taken against any factory or unit found responsible for environmental pollution. He further directed field officers to play an effective role in making industrial units environmentally friendly in line with international standards.