Pakistan, Feb. 9 -- Illegal activities at the stone crushing market near Pul Giara, Chak No. 126 South, have caused serious environmental and agricultural damage after underground water was dangerously stored near a canal by constructing an unauthorized dam over several acres, residents said.

According to locals, hill lease holders excavated stone hundreds of feet deep and illegally accumulated groundwater behind the dam. During the night between February 7 and 8, the dam was deliberately breached, releasing toxic water into the canal, nearby settlements and agricultural fields. The sudden flow destroyed standing wheat and other crops over hundreds of acres and resulted in the death of livestock, while the adjoining canal was completely ...