BANE OF BOULDER BLASTING

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

A prehistoric district of Chiniot is blessed with cultural diversity, archaeological remains, multifarious natural vegetation, pleasant atmosphere, mineral resources and a unique picturesque landscape comprising of sand dune, valley, plain, hill, river, etc.

But the blasting of stone which started in 3000 BC, is putting this significance of Chiniot district in jeopardy. It is a potent threat for human life and property, archaeological sites, natural forests, environmental condition, mineral resources and natural beauty of Chiniot–Chenabnagar area.

In the past, some people lost their lives, many sustained injuries, and several buildings got damaged and few factories faced occasional hammering due to showering of stones erupted from heavy blasting.

There was a watch-post on the hill near Octroi Post No.3 in the western boundary of Chenabnagar. There were inscriptions on stone wall of watch-post having strange figures and archaic words. This place of duty meant to watch the movement of invading troops of the enemies. Probably, the watchman, at his leisure time, made these pictures to kill time. The famous archaeologist Ahmad Hasan Danni visited this post in 90’s and stated that these inscriptions were of Hindu Shahi period. Ironically, the said pictographic-writings are lost as the post has been annihilated by blasting.

An American expert of raw material Randal Law disclosed that stone used in Harappa was actually taken from Chiniot Chenabnagar Hills. It means these hills had been excavating for stone since 3000 BC.

Luckily, some pictographic-writings are still carved on many parts of hills and have close resemblance with those, found at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro sites.

The forces of Raja Poras passed through these hills to fight with Alexander the Great in 327 BC. There were many graves, said to be of Raja Poras’ soldiers, and other remains in these mountainous area. Most are disappeared or forgotten by people.

It is reported that there was a minor seat of Nath Yogi clan in hills near Chiniot known as Ghoraknath Sathan (probably near ‘Butt Wali Pahari’).Once Guru Ghoraknath visited this place in 12^th century. One of his disciples remained there till 1970.Afterward, the seat wiped out due to blasting or some other reason.

There was a natural forest of “phulai” on the northern side of hills near Octroi Post no3. Phulai (acacia modesta) is native species commonly referred as kikar. Its wood was used to make hands of tools and as a fuel. It control salinity and is drought resistant specie. Now this forest is totally obliterated due to movement of trucks, dumpers and tractor trolleys carrying stone and for some other reasons. Its extinction not only damaged natural habitat of animals and ecosystem but also marred folklores and folk songs that pivot around kikar. In the love story of Mirza-Sahiba, Mirza was sleeping on the bough of phulai (Kikar) when Sahiba hung his arrow bow on the twig of kikar….Then, there are many verses related to this specie. Like this mahia (two verse Punjabi poem).

Munda rohi day kikar ton kala…

Tay payo noo pasand aa giya…

The “would be bridegroom” is as black as the kikar of Rohi still the father of “would be bride” selected him as her mate. Unfortunately we lost this jungle.

In blasting of soft stone, mixtures of Sulphur, (S) Potassium nitrate (KNO₃) and Charcoal (C) is used. Blasters usually further add urea and diesel to enhance blast intensity. In blasting of hard stone, Dynamite is being used. Some blasters use AMFO type explosive which contains Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄ NO₃) and furnace oil (Hydrocarbons of long carbon chain). Due to these blasts; carbon monoxide(CO), carbon dioxide(CO₂), Sulphur dioxide(SO₂),nitric oxide(NO),nitrogen peroxide(NO₂),etc, are released in atmosphere thus causing serious air pollution. These gases cause “Acid Rain” and also create “Green House Effect” resulting in global warming. Furthermore, during blast atmosphere fills with dust and smoke particles which cause asthma, other pulmonary diseases, ophthalmia (inflammation of the eye) and released hydrocarbons have proved carcinogenic effect, even if they are present in traces. Blasts also create, “noise pollution”. Their roar is much higher than recommended 80 decibel.

Due to blast, the detonation waves travel too far and disturb the natural balance of tectonic plates, with deformation of earth crust. Blast also create fissure in rock and earth crust. Thus meddling with divine equilibrium of Earth’s surface is not a prudent step. It could result in devastation. (God forbade). Thus, blasting poses serious environmental threats.

Mountains constitute Lithosphere, an important component of environment. The 99.5% mass of lithosphere is made of 11 elements which are oxygen (46.60%), Silicon(27.72%),Aluminium(8.13%),Iron(5.0%),Calcium(3.63%),Sodium(2.83%), Potassium(2.59%), Magnesium(2.09%) and Titanium, Hydrogen and Phosphorous(total less than 1%).

The elements present in trace amount (0.1 to 0.02%)are Carbon,Maganese,Sulphur,Barium,Chlorine,Chromium,Fluorine,Zirconium, Nickel, Strontium and Vanadium. All above mentioned element are valuable and pricey.

It is also said that these mountains contain rich percentage of gold. About 40 years back, there were small furnaces, in Factory Area Chenabnagar, to extract gold from the stones of these hills. Instead of using these stones for mineral excavation, we are using them for building purposes, thus we are losing rich mineral resources.

According to research of Physics Department of the Punjab University, radioactivity was detected in the houses of Chiniot and Chenabnagar that shows the presence of radioactive metals in these mountains. (All metal having atomic mass greater than 82 are radioactive). The radioactive metals are rare and very precious and are considered asset of a country.

According to a famous Archaeologist Muzaffar Ahmad, There is evidence of presence of Iron (Chromite -FeCr₂O_{4 –}a brownish black mineral with spinel structure used as a source of Chromium and Iron, etc.) from Burj Babul to Rajoa Sadaat. So these hills contain iron and Chromium. Thus we are sacrificing valuable metals to get less valuable material i.e.stone.

This chain of hills wards off the threat of flood. Whenever, the Chenab River is inundation and flood water comes out of the river basin, these hills put a natural embankment against torrent of water and save the populous cities of Chiniot and Chenabnager.

Furthermore, there is an aesthetic consideration also. The lofty lines of hills create a picturesque site and fascinate people. The princess Chandan was so enchanted to see the beauty of this area that she ordered construction of a city, now called Chiniot. The trance attained by seeing them is gradually diminishing due to this morbid blasting. The natural cosmetic of the area is at stake. Keats has rightly said:

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty”, that is all

Ye know on earth,and all ye need to know.

Ex. DCO Chiniot Rana Tahir put hectic efforts to end or reduce blasting and a Chiniot based local organization also raised hue and cry to put an end to blasting. Thus, Blasting has been stopped apparently, but at few places it is still in work. It is the time to put a complete ban on blasting with no exception and the people connected with stone business must be provided alternate job opportunities, keeping in mind humanitarian considerations. Believe it benevolently and benignly because bread and butter and bonanza of bourgeoisie is basically more beneficial and befitting than beauty, botanical blessings and big bucks.