Health hazard: SEPA expresses concerns over water supplied to Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The Sindh Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has expressed concern over drinking water being supplied to the citizens of Hyderabad, observing that it is causing illnesses in people.

The director-general of Sepa, Naeed Ahmed Mughal, visited on Monday the main filtration plant of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) on Jamshoro Road, which supplies more than 30 million gallons per day, and inspected the filtration process. He warned the Wasa's officers that if the filtration process is not improved by his next spot check, Sepa will recommend action against the relevant officials.

Mughal also issued a warning to Isra University Hospital after he found lack of compliance with Hospital Waster Management Rules, 2014, by the hospital during a visit.

Moreover, another warning was given to the hundreds of industries in Hyderabad SITE, which continue to release toxic waste water in Phuleli canal. During a meeting in December, 2015, Sepa gave a month to the industries to submit undertakings for installation of in-house treatment systems.

So far while the industries have failed to comply with the directives, the Sepa officials have failed to enforce the rules.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2016.