PESHAWAR, Nov 12: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday directed the National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to conduct inquiry into the affairs of forest department, including illegal timber harvest and funds allocated to plantation across the province.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Asadullah Khan Chamkani ordered NAB deputy prosecutor general Jamil Khan to constitute a team of experts for examining the forest department`s affairs, especially massive deforestation by timber mafia, allocation of funds for tree plantation, survival rate of planted saplings, etc. The bench stated that if the NAB detected any corrupt practices in the department it should proceed with the matter in accordance with the law. The bench fixed Dec 12 for next hearing of the case.

The bench, which was hearing cases related to environmental issues, also took notice of staff shortage at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and directed the provincial secretary environment to move a summary for creation of required number of posts, which could cover the entire province.

The bench directed that the secretary environment should provide justification in the summary for enhancing the workforce so that all the areas falling un-der the EPA domain could be covered. It was added that the provincial government should increase allocation of funds to the EPA for its effective functioning.

It issued the order after EPA director general Dr Mohammad Bashir informed the bench that they were short of workforce and experts, and that the department possessed only 73 employees who were not well-trained. He stated it was difficult for them to check violations with the existing workforce.

The bench also directed the EPA DG and secretaries of irrigation and public health engineering departments to implement its earlier order and block the sewerage lines dumping sewage in canals passing through or near the provincial capital. However, the bench directed the DG that reasonable time should be given to the people so that they could dig up septic tanks and the government should also provide them experts to accomplish the task.

The court had earlier this year directed the provincial irrigation secretary to prepare a draft bill and refer it to the law department for legislation so as to declare littering of canals a non-bailable offence. However, so far that enactment could not be made.

Moreover, the bench allowed more time to the Peshawar Municipal Corporation (PMC) for cleaning the Shahi Kata, an ancient nullah passing through the provincial capital, and re-moving encroachments built over it.

The bench directed the revenue department to provide assistance to the PMC chief officer Jawed Amjid in demarcation of the nullah in accordance with the revenue record.

The court ordered that all encroachments around the nullah must be removed after issuance of show cause notices to the persons concerned.The bench issued these directives while hearing cases whose suo motu notice was taken by the chief justice last year. The issues included dumping of garbage and sewage into canals, choking of Shahi Kata, deforestation, presence of rusted water supply pipes, etc.

Mr Amjid told the bench that they had planned the cleaning of the nullah, but due to law and order situation in the area and Muharram the task could not be accomplished till Tuesday and they needed more time for it.

When the bench inquired from chief conservator of forest, Peshawar, Mohammad Younas, why deforestation had been on the rise, the official stated that apart from timber mafia there were also other factors involved including increase in population and security situation.

The bench directed the chief conservator to file written comments and explain the problems faced by them especially political interference and role of timber mafia.