Allotment of about 1095 plots in I-9 and I-10 industrial estates against the total 1030 planned earlier by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) would compound problems for adjacent residential sectors.
According to a survey conducted by Business Recorder, at present 500 factories are operating in these two industrial estates. These units are spreading water and air pollution in the area.
Experts say pollution would go to alarming proportions with the commissioning of 500 more industrial units in these areas.
Out of the total 500 existing plants, there are 204 manufacturing units in the area, according to the survey.
Industries causing more pollution are steel furnaces (6), ghee/oil mills (4), GI pipes (2), soap/chemicals (18), plastic/polyphone (4), marble (32), chillies/spices grinding (1), polymer (1) flour mills (10), PVC pipes (1) and beverages (1).
These industries have either none or inadequate facilities for treatment of industrial wastes.
The residents of I-9 and I-10 sectors frequently complained about diseases like chest congestion and asthma, which are directly linked to air pollution.
The survey also revealed that ambient air quality in affected areas of these industrial estates had never been tested due to non-availability of adequate facilities.
Even the quality of industrial effluent has not been properly checked by the concerned department.
Sources informed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CDA have held several meetings with the owners of these industries and served frequent notices but the problem is still unresolved. The two agencies had also failed to take rehabilitative measures in the area.
According to estimates collected by EPA sources, about 1,500 tons per day effluents generated through pharmaceutical industry, flour mills, ghee/oil mills, marble factories and plastic extrusion mills are being thrown to Nullah Leh, which had polluted the underground water, sources said.
The discharge of untreated industrial wastes has adverse effects on public health that drink this pollutant water.
Sources also revealed that the EPA with the help of Jica experts had already conducted a comprehensive study of these industrial areas and suggested major polluting industrial units should strictly follow the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) by setting up solid/liquid waste treatment plants and smoke emission hoods for safe dispersal of toxic particles.
The CDA under directives from the Supreme Court had compiled a negative list of at least 23 industrial units, which were the major source of pollution, in June 1999.
It had given a 3-month deadline to the owners of these units for taking remedial measures to control pollution, otherwise their cases would be sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) court.
However, sources told, the matter was not pursued properly and thrown into the cold storage.
There are only six steel furnaces out of the total 400 in the federal capital's two industrial zones at present, who have opposed to install the EPA-approved instruments necessary to control emission of dangerous particles.
The CDA has also banned trade licenses for the establishment of steel furnaces or smoke emitting mills, which pollute fresh air.
The CDA also introduced a one-window facility for capital area industrialists to change trade by paying Rs 50 per square yards.
The directorate of environment instructed the steel mills' owners to make it sure that these furnaces will utilise bonded scrape to help control less emission of hazardous and diluted smoke from the hoods.
The CDA has the power to fine violators but can not force them to cease their business as the civic body had itself allowed them to set up furnaces to meet demands of the capital during early 60s, official said.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PAK-EPA) had already set standard of 100-feet for the installation of smoke-emission hoods on such kinds of mills to disperse dust particles harming human health.
But they (steel mill owners) are not willing to do so, saying, the fabrication of hoods and installation of blower/filter is not cost-effective in terms of electric consumption.
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