Green activist points out govt does not ensure the safety of the environment. PHOTO: FILE
Other environmental activists and the affected communities marked the World Environment Day on Thursday, renewing their demand to counter the growing environmental degradation in the wake of climate change.
Panhwar pointed out that the government does not ensure the safety of the environment. “The government shows no seriousness in preventing the contamination of freshwater reserves, containing the deltaic degradation, or hampering the sea from devouring the coastal land, lakes and subsoil water.”
Drawing attention towards the sprawling population, the participants spoke about the alarming increase in the use of natural resources. “Unlike the developed countries, the growing industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors in Pakistan are adding to the level of pollution,” observed Panhwar.
Measures to be taken
Panhwar called for an immediate stop to the dumping of industrial and agricultural waste in the rivers, canals and lakes. Urging the government to plant trees across the province, he demanded that mangroves be planted in the coastal districts of Thatta and Badin.
Ashfaq Ahmed Soomro of RDF said that the laws regulating environmental protection need to be implemented stringently. Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) regional director Muneer Ahmed Abbassi could not agree more with Soomro. “The major factors contributing to pollution include migration to urban centres at a colossal rate, massive decrease in forest land, destruction of deltas, contamination of water reserves, use of disposable plastic, and the absence of a proper system of waste disposal by the municipal authorities,” he said.
Moreover, he said that his agency regularly issues notices to the industrial units that dispose toxic water without treatment. According to him, a few industries in Hyderabad and Kotri SITE areas have installed the in-house effluent treatment systems. Sepa is pursuing the remaining ones to instal the system, he added.
Hospital waste management
Separately, the speakers at an event organised by the Fundamental Rights Commission of Pakistan, a non-profit organisation, discussed hospital waste management. Abdul Jabbar Rehmani, the commission’s head, said that the hospitals dump hazardous waste at public places instead of incinerating the material. “Their staff sell blood and urine bags, syringes and other used plastic material to scrap dealers,” he pointed out. “This material is then recycled to make drinking straws, plastic glasses and plates, and other products.” Rehmani criticised the health and environment protection authorities for turning a blind eye to the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2014.
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