Hyderabad: The Sindh High Court (SHC) recently ordered the authorities concerned to halt all excavation activity on Nagarparkar’s Karoonjhar Hills, according to a news source. A division bench of the SHC Hyderabad Circuit announced this verdict on Wednesday.
The bench, consisting of Justice Adnanul Karim Memon and Justice Nadeem Akhtar, stayed the excavation of stone from these hills on the basis of a petition filed by a resident of Tharparkar. He expostulated that the respondents were cutting these mountains and removing their valuable resources illegally; without the provision any reparations or facilities to the locals.
In response, the SC bench issued notices to the various parties involved; including a number of marble companies. The judges also directed the additional advocate general and the deputy attorney general to file comments before the next hearing date (December 5).
Until this date, no respondents will be allowed to cut into the hills or transport any materials or minerals from there. Karoonjhar is considered to be the most valuable source for natural resources in Sindh, and also holds significant historical and cultural importance for Tharparkar’s residents. it is also home to numerous species of wildlife and thus, the petitioner argued, it should be protected from all such excavation activities.
