SC bars cement factories from using potable water

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday barred cement factories from using potable water, as it admonished the private cement factories for putting profits before the environment.

The apex court was hearing a case pertaining to the depleted Katas Raj pond in Chakwal – a revered site for Hindus which is said to have depleted due to operations in the vicinity of several cement factories that have sucked out the underground water.

The Supreme Court had wrapped up its suo motu notice of the poor condition of the Katas Raj pond back in May this year, after assurance from cement factories to arrange alternative sources of water and pay for water use.

However, irked by the non-implementation of its orders, a Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan took up hearing on the case once again and reprimanded the cement factories for wasteful use of potable water.—INP