PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) has imposed ban on use of mercury in gold mining in Kohat. A two members bench of PHC comprising chief justice PHC Ishtiaq Ibrahim and justice Waqar Ahmad took up for hearing petition filed against use of mercury in gold mining. Noman Mohib Ullah Kakakhel represented the petitioners former MPA Amjid Khan Afridi and others from Kohat in the case. He told the court mercury is used during gold mining in Kohat. Due to its burning not only environmental problems are being created but also its wastage is thrown in river Sindh. This pollutes water also. This is spoiling adjacent agricultural lands. The petitioner took the plea use of chemical during gold mining and its dumping is not only hazardous for human being but also for plants and animals. Its negative impact is falling on agricultural lands. It is responsibility of government and respective institutions to declare its use illegal besides stopping its use. The court should issue orders to provincial government and respective departments to regulate these things so that their prevention could become possible in future. The court imposed ban on use of chemical in gold mining after hearing preliminary arguments. The court while issuing notice to Mineral department authorities has sought reply from them on next hearing. Online
