Crushing plants affecting environment and people alike in Abbottabad

ABBOTTABAD: The massive excavation of stones from mines on Lora-Ghora Gali Road is damaging the ecosystem and causing environmental degradation.

Residents as well as line departments, including Pak PWD & Wildlife have criticized the rapid increase in stone crushing in the remote tehsil of the Abbottabad district and asked relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the residents.

The residents of Lora Tehsil in a complaint to the Wildlife Department pointed out the conservation of wildlife. A copy was sent to the district administration as well. They stated that mining activities in Lora had reached alarming levels with massive excavation spread across a large area which was resulting in damage to the environment.

The report submitted by the District Forest Officer of Wildlife, Muhammad Idrees, suggested action to address the concerns and mitigate the devastating impacts of mining in different areas of Lora Tehsil.

The DFO said the village was polluted and necessary measures were required to restore the damage to the echo system and ensure the safety & well-being of the people.

Similarly, Pak PWD, Central Civil Division in Islamabad in a letter addressed to the tehsil municipal officer of Lora said that the four kilometers road from Lora to Ghora Gali had been damaged by heavily loaded trucks and dumping of garbage.

The letter signed by the assistant executive engineer stated that the road had been damaged by heavily loaded trucks transporting crushing material from crush plants installed on roadsides. He asked TMA authorities to take notice of the issue in the public interest.

Interestingly, the KP Mines Department has allegedly allowed a few more stone-crushing machines to work in Lora Tehsil whereas three such plants were already working there which was creating problems for the local people.It was learnt that another two stone-crushing plants had been sanctioned at the edge of the main Lora -Ghora Gali Road.

Stone-crushing activities can lead to significant environmental degradation. The dust and other particulate matter generated during the crushing process is polluting the air, affecting both human health and the ecosystem.

Stone crushers appeared to occupy these most beautiful valleys, disturbing the landscape’s natural geographical formations and archaeological features.

The pristine, clean environment has been replaced by the pungent smell of industry and the noise of motors. Heavy traffic, such as trucks and dumpers, has damaged the main road as well as bridges. Even spring water has become polluted because of careless human habitation around the spring’s source. “The activities have either polluted or destroyed our drinking water sources,” complains Masood Khan, a resident.

“A good night’s sleep or even an afternoon nap is difficult to come by because of noise from the machinery and constant blasting by workers,” he complained.Jawadullah Khan, a social worker, said the increase in the number of stone-crushing plants on the main road was damaging forests leading to noise and air pollution. He said asthma and other lung diseases had become common due to the stone-crushing plants installed on both sides of the Lora-Abbottabad Road.

Ironically, these stone-crushing activities take place along the busy Ghora Gali-Lora Road, which means that residents often end up stuck in hour-long traffic jams as workers stop traffic to carry out unscheduled blasts.