BAJAUR: Untreated wastewater and marble slurry discharged from the marble factories in the Sheikh Kallay area of Khar tehsil here are posing a serious threat to agricultural lands, endangering local residents’ lives and the natural environment.

Talking to Dawn, Imran Khan, a social figure and resident of Mandal area of the Salarzai tehsil, said over the past six to eight months, untreated wastewater from marble factories had become a serious concern, overflowing into much of the Sheikh Kallay-Falang River and impacting several villages along its banks.

“Earlier, the wastewater from these marble outlets was confined to a small section of the river in Khazana and its nearby areas because some factories followed the government’s designated rules and regulations required for operating these outlets; but most units have stopped following these guidelines,” he alleged.

Residents said that several localities in the Khar and Salarzai tehsils had been severely affected by toxic water released from the marble factories.

DC promises action against units violating govt guidelines

They said Mandal — a densely populated and agricultural area — was the worst affected, as most parts of the river flowing through the area had been contaminated with toxic water.

They said that besides having a significant impact on agricultural land and the natural environment, contaminated wastewater also posed a serious threat to fish and other aquatic creatures.

“Our river once supported a large number of fish and other aquatic animals, but their numbers have declined and are now close to disappearing,” said Shah Hussain Khan, a farmer from Mandal area.

Residents of several areas of Khar tehsil, including Khazana, Ali Jan, Khairabad, Sheikh Menoo, and Dag Qala, have also raised concerns about wastewater.

They told Dawn that untreated wastewater from marble factories contaminated their river, not only affecting their land and livestock but also posing a serious threat to their health.

They stated that they had repeatedly raised the issue with officials from the relevant departments to ensure that all marble factories complied with wastewater discharge regulations, but to no avail.

When contacted, deputy commissioner Shahid Ali Khan told Dawn that they had decided to take strict action against the marble units not following the government guidelines.

“This is indeed a serious issue, and we have instructed the management of all marble factories in the district to install septic tanks and take other necessary measures to ensure wastewater is discharged in accordance with the government’s industrial plan, aiming to keep the environment clean and green,” he told Dawn.

Mr Khan said several units not following the prescribed plan had already been sealed and heavily fined over the past few months.

Published in Dawn, March 23th, 2026