In June 2020, a 20-year-old man accidently fell into the sea near Rehri Goth, located on the outskirts of Karachi and considered to be one of the city’s oldest fishing settlements.
Muhammad Jumman, a fisherman by profession, says it took three days to find the body due to the heavy levels of pollution in the area. Rehri Goth, which was once a sleepy and picturesque fishing village has now turned into a cesspool of filth causing residents to suffer from health issues and financial disaster.
“This was once a beautiful shoreline with crystal clear water filled with different fish species. It has now turned into a gutter due to cattle dung and industrial waste,” adds Jumman.
Rehri Goth is considered to be one of Pakistan’s oldest fishing settlement. It is located on the coastal belt of Karachi and is part of the Korangi Creek in the Indus Delta. Climate change and pollution are fast taking their toll on this lower income community. Most of the 70,000 residents of Rehri Goth, which falls in the Malir face a number of challenges caused by health issues and dwindling fish catches.
Untreated industrial waste from Landhi and Korangi industrial areas is one of the major factors that make sea water poisonous for humans and for marine life. “Rehri Goth is our ancestral village. Our family and other fishermen were prosperous and happy as there were plenty of catch in the form of fish and shrimp. But nowadays, our younger generations are out of work and roaming in the streets as they don’t know where to go,” laments Hawwa Bibi, who is part of the fishing community.
The worst affected is the marine life, which is also facing consequences of extreme pollution and chemical waste. “Mangroves are the nurseries of fish, shrimp and other marine life. If pollution destroys them, how can marine life and the human life connected to it is to survive,” asks Rafiul Haq, a Karachi-based consultant ecologist.
According to a study published on January 2021 in EQA, an International Journal of Environmental Quality which publishes research articles and analysis on soil, water, air quality and sustainable use of environmental resources, the level of chemical pollutants in Karachi’s coastal areas is ‘exceptionally higher’ as compared to National Environmental Quality Standards.
The study also revealed that Karachi’s coast is heavily polluted and inundated in chemical and metallic pollution because of regular discharge of domestic and industrial effluents. This needs to be addressed with strict regulations to save aquatic ecosystem.
No surprise then that the fishing community is uncertain about what the future holds for their next generation. Kamal Shah, who heads the Coastal Media Centre of the Fisherfolk Forum, an organisation working for the welfare of the fishing community, says that the root of the problem is the over 1,600 cattle pens located at Landhi’s Cattle Colony.
These pens are dumping their waste directly into the sea. As a result, the catch has declined dramatically. Many have lost their earnings forcing family members in factories to earn bread and butter for their children.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics social report 2018-19 confirms that the lack of proper facilities for disposal of waste is directly related to pollution of the ecosystem.
Solid waste collection figures by the City Government Karachi recorded 20 per cent rise in 2018-19 as compared to 17 per cent in 2013-14, which indicates the poor solid waste management system for collection of solid waste up to its proper disposal.
In 2018-19, overall percentage of garbage collection was 36 per cent in Sindh province. In this, 28 percent garbage collected by municipality and 8 per cent privately. On the other hand, 65 percent households had no garbage collection system which indicates the poor solid waste management system right for collection of solid waste up to its proper disposal.
Muhammad Moazzam Khan, who serves as a Technical Advisor for Marine Fisheries to WWF-Pakistan says that the waste produced by Bhains Colony includes body parts of animals, hay and cattle dung which solidifies onto the sea mass and depletes oxygen, thus causing the marine life to suffer and die because of this. Also, due to the layer on top of the water mass, the water is poisoned and this affects the health of anyone who ventures into it.
“Skin diseases in the coastal areas are common. Patients from Rehri Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi often come for treatment. Skin rashes, thickening of skin are few among many skin diseases they suffered due to high level of pollution in the water they used for bathing, washing clothes and other activities. Polluted water can also cause skin cancer,” confirms Dr Shakira Anees of Skin Hospital, commonly known as Chamra Hospital located in Saddar area of Karachi.
Dr Moazzam says that the only solution is the installation of industrial waste treatment or recycling plants on urgent basis. The WWF-Pakistan launched an initiative in 2018 under which eight units of biogas plant were installed which were operated by bio gas generated from recycling of cattle dung. The project ended in 2020. Two units are still working and providing gas to four houses. The rest of the units have shut down because of various reasons.
Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development in the Sindh government cites the Sindh Environmental protection Act 2014, under which it is mandatory for industries to dispose industrial waste in the sea only after treatment. Similarly, municipal bodies are bound to treat domestic waste before disposing it.
“In the year 2021, Rs800 million has been allocated for the installation of waste treatment plants. Three treatment plants in Karachi and one in Tando Adam will be installed. These treatment plants will treat domestic waste and garbage before disposal into the sea,” says Ghauri.
Replying to a question about fishing community relief, Ghauri says that for the development of fishing community settlements in Sindh, development schemes worth Rs997 million are being undertaken.
The biggest culprits of industrial pollution into the sea are factories located in Landhi and Korangi industrial areas. When asked to comment on what they are doing to address the issue, Secretary General of Landhi Association of Trade and Industries Shah Zaman remained silent.
An official of the government department said that efforts on a war footing are needed to address the problem. “Noone is willing to take responsibility and play a role to control rising levels of sea contamination,” he said.
The alarming water pollution and thickening of the industrial waste layer with each passing day needs solid waste treatment plants in the area. Despite several attempts to get the comments from the Sindh Solid waste management board, no official was available to talk.
It is estimated that nearly 400 million gallons of untreated sewage is being dumped into the sea on a daily basis in Karachi.
Increasing sea pollution level in Arabian Sea at Karachi’s coastal belt emerges as a matter of concern for international bodies as well. The World Bank has announced US$100 million for the Solid Waste Emergency and Efficiency Project (SWEEP) in December 2020 to improve the solid waste management system in Pakistan’s mega city Karachi. It includes construction and upgradation of infrastructure like garbage collection, transfer and disposal facilities.
Rehri Goth’s residents are looking for immediate action from the government to control the damage that has already been done. However, many say that it may already be too late.