BAJAUR: The district administration here on Monday warned owners of marble factories in different areas of Mamund tehsil of sealing their units if they failed to install septic tanks till today (Tuesday).

The warning to owners of marble factories in Mamund tehsil was issued by a team of district administration officials, led by Nawagai subdivision assistant commissioner Mohammad Riaz, during a surprise visit to the units.

According to a statement, during the visit the officials examined about 12 marble factories and found all of them operating without septic tanks that were compulsory to keep the environment clean.

It said that the visiting officials admonished the owners of marble factories for not installing septic tanks in their units despite the directives of district administration.

The statement said that the officials also noted during their visit that most of the factories were running without any protective measures for the safety of workers. It added that the visiting officials found no system in any unit to protect workers from health hazards.

After witnessing no septic tanks and protective measures for the workers, the officials directed the owners of factories to follow government’s policy in that regard to avoid strict action against them that included their arrest and sealing of their units.

The owners of marble factories on the occasion assured the visiting officials to ensure installation of all the missing facilities in their units till today (Tuesday). They also acknowledged that running factories without following government’s policy was a serious crime.

“We are very sorry for not following the government’s policy for running of our factories but we promise to take all the necessary measures by Tuesday,” the statement quoted the owners of factories as saying.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2024