A 100 kilns were sealed in Surjani Town by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on Wednesday. Besides, banned plastic bags were confiscated by the anti-pollution watchdog from markets of FB Area and Karimabad.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, SEPA teams conducted inspection raids in West and Central districts on the directives of Advisor to Sindh CM on Law, Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Murtaza Wahab and took action against polluters.
In the West district, the agency claimed to have shut down 100 'illegal' setups where batteries were being melted for recycling. A team led by Karachi SEPA Acting Director Waris Ali Gabol found 100 kilns in Old Cattle Colony, Surjani Town to be operating without authorised registration, and without applying precautionary measures to control emissions.
Unauthorised recycling of any product is strictly prohibited by law, read the statement. Besides, it added, it was observed that the burning of batteries was generating excessive air pollution, leading to various respiratory and coronary diseases among nearby residents.
Separately, a monitoring team of Central district, led by In-Charge Kamran Khan, visited different markets in FB Area and Karimabad and seized prohibited plastic bags from shopkeepers.
Shopkeepers were warned to refrain from using non-biodegradable plastic bags, which are banned across the province. Legal action would be taken otherwise, it was stressed.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2020.
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