RAWALPINDI, Sept 18: The Punjab environment tribunal here on Tuesday issued warrants for the arrest of the owners of seven stone crushing machines at Margallah Hills in Taxila and a developer of a private housing scheme in Attock for polluting the environment and launching a housing scheme without getting the environment impact assessment (EIA) report and a no-objection certificate.

It will also frame charges on September 19 (today) against the owners of poultry farms in Murree for polluting streams by discharging sewage into them.

The orders were issued by the environment watchdog during a camp court here.

The tribunal, headed by Abdul Rasheed, with member (general) Obaid Rabbani and member (technical) Prof A.R. Saleemi, took up 20 cases of pollution.

The tribunal issued arrest warrants in eight cases and adjourned the proceedings of 12 cases till September 19.

The tribunal was informed that the seven stone crushers and the private housing developer did not turn up before the court despite receiving notices.

The arrest warrants were issued against owners of stone crushing machines, Faqir Hussain, Raja Yasir, four-star stone crusher; Anwar, Gosia, Raja Sagheer and Tariq, stone crushers in Taxila. The tribunal also issued arrest warrants of China Housing Scheme, Attock, for not getting EIA report and NOC before launching the project.

The tribunal sought reply from the owners of 30 poultry farms for not adopting environment safety measures.

Talking to Dawn, District Officer Environment Shaukat Hayat said the cases of poultry farms were made two years ago when the Supreme Court took suo motu action over the Rawal Lake pollution.

He said the environment tribunal had not been completed last year.

After its formation, the tribunal took up all the cases and issued fresh notices to all the accused during the last three months.