Stone crushers install first dust suppression system at Margalla Hills

The continuing practice of stone crushing on the Margalla Hills by ill-equipped stone crushers has been wreaking havoc for the environment. However, there is a silver lining as one crusher has installed a dust suppression system to settle the dust generated during the crushing process and reduce polluting emissions. Hopefully, others will follow.Meanwhile, as a safety measure, another stone crusher has started using water to settle the clouds of dust that rises during the crushing process.While still not on 'war-footing',Youthful congregation gives 103-year-old church new life. the Rawalpindi District Environment Office has recently begun efforts to limit the destructive activity of around 100 stone crushers who operate on the western end of the Margalla Hills National Park.Although stone crushing is a major threat to the natural habitat and forestation in the national park area, the DEO is primarily focusing on the air pollution aspect of stone crushing.The dust clouds generated while grinding boulders and rocks into fine gravel and the emissions from vehicles used to transport the gravel contribute to the high levels of airborne particulate matter in the area.

The DEO and the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency estimate particulate emissions from stone crushing to be 33 to 40 times higher than national environment quality standards.The DEO suggests stone crushers adopt dust suppression techniques such as wet scrubbers and sprinklers.The dust suppression technology used by Khawaja Stone is not advanced or complicated. It uses tarps to cover the crushing plants where rocks are broken down into fine pebbles. Water pumped from a nearby tank is sprayed on the rocks as they are being disintegrated using regular garden hoses with shower heads attached.