Staff Reporter:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to seal 100 rice mills operating without the non-objection certificates (NOCs) of the agency in three districts of Balochistan. The EPA has issued letters to the concerned commissioner and deputy commissioners in this regard, Muhammad Jahangir Kakar, the Director-General EPA Balochistan said on Wednesday evening.
Mr. Kakar said 10 rice mills would be sealed in Naseerabad district, 6 in Sohbat Pur and 84 in Jaffarabad districts of Balochistan. All these mills have been operating without the permission and obtaining NOCs from the EPA, he added.
“None would be allowed to violate the Balochistan environment act 2012”, the DG said.
The EPA and district administration Quetta have also sealed four factories producing polythene bags in various parts of the city. The factories have been closed following decision of the EPA to ban the sale and use of polythene bags in the city the other day.
In district Pishin, seven stone-crushing plants were sealed on the directives of EPA. The stone-crushing plants were creating various health diseases especially, asthma and other respiratory diseases, Mr. Kakar added.
Factories and plants located in Balochistan’s district Lasbella and Chaghi were also sealed by the administration on the directives of EPA, the daily Quetta Voice has learned.
