The Sindh High Court directed the relevant authorities to take action against the cultivation of vegetables using toxic water and submit a report on February 17.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, sought a detailed reply from the Sindh agriculture department's secretary over a plea pertaining to cultivation of vegetables at the Malir River bank using poisonous water.
The Sindh Food Authority's legal director, agriculture department's additional secretary and other officials appeared before the court.
The bench expressed annoyance at the authorities over their failure to submit a progress report on the matter.
"Everyone is at loss if vegetables are being cultivated with sewerage water," remarked Justice Mazhar, adding that no department was fulfilling its responsibilities.
How many raids have been carried out and has the cultivation using poisonous water been controlled, inquired the court.
The SFA's legal director informed the court that samples have been sent for testing and the results are awaited.
"Why are the results being delayed," inquired Justice Mazhar. Do the deputy commissioners need judicial orders, he asked.
The bench remarked that every institution and agency is obliged to fulfill their responsibilities.
The court directed the SFA to present the test results and ordered the relevant authorities to carry out an operation against the cultivation of vegetables with poisonous water and submit a report by February 17.
Later, DC Korangi and others submitted a report before the court and the officers demanding operation arrangements. Action has been taken against cultivation of vegetables with dirty water, Mukhtiarkar Korangi said
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The report said water flow is high after the monsoon and it takes three months to destroy waste vegetables. The report said authorities faced a shortage of machinery for further action.
The report demanded tractors, shovels, staff, and the help of local police. The action was taken on Malir River between June 6 and June 9, 2020, said the Korangi additional deputy commissioner. He said the task force is overseeing the area.
Replies sought
Meanwhile, the court sought replies from the Centre and the Federal Ministry of Planning and Development ministry on a plea filed against the non-completion of the K-IV project.
The petitioner, Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, maintained that the people of Karachi are suffering due to the rift between the Centre and the Sindh government. He contended that the project has been delayed due to lack of funds and moved the court to direct the federal government to complete the project immediately.
The court sought replies from the Federal Ministry of Planning and Development and the federal government over the plea.
The project is a municipal infrastructure being jointly developed by the provincial and federal governments to augment the daily water supply in the metropolis. The estimated cost is Rs25.5 billion, while the project is designed to provide 650 million gallons of water daily to the city in three phases.
Bail granted
Separately, the court approved the bail plea of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani till February 11 in the National Accountability Bureau's inquiry pertaining to misuse of powers.
The interim bail plea of Durrani was approved against the surety of Rs 1,000,000. The court directed the petitioner to cooperate with the anti-graft watchdog's inquiry.
The next hearing of the case is slated for February 11.
*With additional input from PPI
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2021.
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