The Environmental Protection Tribunal on Monday fined a tyre pyrolysis plant in Islamabad Rs18.6 million for causing environmental pollution. The tribunal fined Fazal-e-Rabi Plant of Sangjani and ordered the plant owner to submit the amount to the national exchequer within 15 days.
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a complaint with the tribunal, stating that no permission was taken before the establishment of the plant,” the written order said. “The EPA and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered to stop environmental pollution. The orders of EPA and the IHC were not implemented,” it added. “The Member Inspection IHC, EPA and Assistant Commissioner (AC) had submitted reports. The Saddr AC sealed the plant on October 6, 2022, on the order of the tribunal. It was resealed on October 20 on public complaints about its de-sealing,” it stated. “A case was registered against the owner and employees of the plant at Tarnol police station. The plant owner clearly violated the orders of the IHC. The plant owner himself or through counsel did not attend any of the hearings of the tribunal. Non-compliance is clear evidence of disregarding law and court orders,” it added.
“According to the law, a penalty of Rs1 million is imposed on the plant for spreading environmental pollution. A further penalty of Rs20,000 per day is imposed for the continuous violation,” it ruled. Deputy Director Aamir Abbas followed the case on behalf of the EPA.
