Toxic waste tragedy: Incensed protesters storm Dera Ismail Khan sugar mill

Alcohol plant, GM office, zonal office and records office set on fire; CM orders inquiry, announces compensation.

DI KHAN:

Incensed by the death of 10 people from toxic waste allegedly released from the Chashma Sugar Mill, dozens of relatives of the victims stormed the mill, setting many of its offices on fire.

Carrying sticks, clubs and cobblestones, the protesters barged into the main compound of Chashma Sugar Mill set fire to its alcohol plant, GM office, zonal office and records office.

Seeing the situation getting out of control, a police contingent present at the site resorted to teargas shelling and baton charge to disperse the crowd. The protesters retaliated by throwing stones at the police.  Four protesters and a policeman were wounded in the resulting melee.

The police, meanwhile, detained a number of officials, including Chashma Sugar Mill’s general manager Ishfaq Ahmad, production manager Abdul Aziz, manager (admin) Sarfaraz Khan, security officer Muhammad Afzal, health and safety manager Atiq-ur-Rehman as well as local purchase officer Khawaj Sher Azam. The detentions came after an FIR was lodged at the Parowa police station. Ten people, including women and children, died from the toxic waste discharged from the sugar mill in DI Khan.

SP (Investigations) Amanullah Khan told journalists that strict action would be taken against those responsible for this negligence. He added that the sugar mill has committed in a written agreement that it would not release toxic waste into the drain.

“According to the agreement, the mill administration was bound to make alternate arrangements, and stop releasing toxic waste into the drain,” he added. The agreement was signed a month ago when the mill administration gave in to local residents who had blocked the roads to protest the toxic emissions from the unit.

On Saturday, thousands of people, including political figures, took part in the funeral prayers of the victims and mourning was observed in the whole Parowa tehsil.

CM announces compensation

Taking notice of the incident, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak on Saturday announced compensation for the victims.

According to an official handout, Khattak ordered that Rs0.1 milion each be paid to the families of the dead and Rs50,000 for each of the injured. The DI Khan commissioner has also formed a three-member inquiry committee under Additional Commissioner Qisar Khan to probe into the incident and submit a report within 15 days.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2014.