PDMA challenges canal pollution

HYDERABAD:

In a matter, pertaining to polluting a fresh water canal in Sanghar district with the release of toxic wastewater, the Sindh High Court has put on notice the concerned functionaries of the provincial government and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO). The Hyderabad Circuit Bench on Friday directed Deputy Commissioner Sanghar to inspect Sui Kander Minor and to submit a comprehensive report in the court about dumping of wastewater.

The petitioner, advocate Ghulam Sarwar Qureshi, blamed Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) for conniving in the act of polluting the canal. "The PDMA has provided power machines to powerful landlords who are dumping saline, poisonous and toxic waste water in that canal."

The petitioner also affixed photographs of PDMA provided heavy pumping machines in his petition. According to him, the canal in question is the drinking water and irrigation source for the people of Sanghar district. He contended that the people and their livestock animals are particularly at health risks due to consumption of water from Sui Kander Minor. He added that even the crops cultivated from toxic water will contain element of toxicity after harvest.

"The PDMA's action of providing support to the removal of toxic water in fresh water canal is itself promoting a disaster," he argued. The lawyer prayed the court to declare the release of wastewater in the canal as illegal and to order the respondents to immediately stop the exercise.

He also pleaded before the judges to order the irrigation authorities to release large quantity of fresh water in the canal to dilute toxicity.

He urged the court to also order the district and session court Sanghar to depute a judicial officer to carry out routine inspection of canals to prevent activities causing pollution.