ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on T
uesday barred ce
ment fac
tories from using potable water.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar while hearing a suo moto notice case pertainin
g to the depleted Katas Raj pond in Chakwal a revered site for Hindus, berated the ce
ment fac
tories over wasteful use of potable water.
SC lashed out at private ce
ment fac
tories for valuing their profits before the environment.
During the hearing, CJP observed that the ce
ment fac
tories were consuming millions of rupees’ worth water free of any cost.
CJP Nisar questioned why the Punjab Government had not yet imposed taxes on ce
ment fac
tories over wastage of water, adding the the SC will levy taxes itself.
The SC adjourned the hearing until August 1, barring the ce
ment fac
tories from using potable water.
The Katas Raj pond is said to have depleted due to the operations of the ce
ment fac
tories that have drained out the underground water for their fac
tories.
Earlier the SC had concluded its suo moto notice cas
e over the deteriorating condition of the Katas Raj pond in May, 2018 after getting assurance from the ce
ment fac
tories to arrange alternative sources of water to be used and purchased.
Previously the SC had ordered the fac
tories to submit Rs 2 billion as bank security with warning of shutting down if it continued acts of gross negligence.
However, the fac
tories had assured that alternative sources of water will be arranged within six months time.
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