Industrial sites in sectors I-9 and I-10 are causing health hazards to the residents of surrounding residential areas. Residents frequently complain about diseases such as chest congestion and asthma, which are directly linked to air pollution.
The steel and marble industry is a big source of pollution as it uses low-quality scrap as raw materials and release harmful particles into the air.
Kamran Hanif, a resident of I-9 sector, said it was becoming difficult to live in such conditions and locals often fell victim to ailments caused by the pollution.
It is pertinent to mention that the elimination of the buffer zone between the industrial and residential areas in sectors I-9 and I-10 has also increased the risk of health hazards for the residents. Under the Islamabad master plan, sectors I-9 and I-10 were isolated from residential areas through a buffer zone.
But now residential areas have developed inside these sectors, effectively eliminating the buffer zone.
Meanwhile, some plants in the area still do not use pollution reducing equipment.
Ashraf Khan, a worker in the area, said the authorities should shift the plants from residential areas.
On the other hand, a steel worker said his employer takes “all the precautionary and safety measures to avoid emission of harmful gases and other hazardous material from the factory”, adding measures were taken to keep workers save from the effects of emissions as well.
A CDA official said that the authority was pursuing industrialists to use treatment plants to filter hazardous smoke emissions.
The official agreed that residents of the sectors close to the industrial area were suffering the effects of air pollution.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2014.
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