Release of toxic waste: LCCI decries action against industrial units

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has criticised the crackdown, carried out by the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) against industrial units on Multan Road, and urged the government to stop the action.
A chamber spokesman said on Monday that such industries had nothing to do with the disposal of toxic water and punitive action on the part of the city district government would lead to closure of these industries, leaving thousands jobless. "It seems that the bureaucracy wants to spoil the image of a business-friendly provincial government," the spokesman said.
He said the industry was already passing through a severe crisis and the step would further aggravate the situation. "There is no doubt that such an action should be taken against all those, who are polluting the groundwater, but those industries that are not discharging any sort of chemical water should not be subjected to any action," he added.
He said the same wastewater disposal system was operational in the Multan Road industrial area that was in vogue in Cantonment, Johar Town and other housing schemes.
"The fault lies with the Planning Division and not with the industrialists of the area. It would be better if the concerned department had a prior meeting with trade bodies so that action could be initiated against only those who were really involved in discharging toxic water," he said. He said the fact remained that nearby passing Hudiara Drain did contain toxic chemicals only because that it was coming from India and the Indians had built a number of such industries, which are discharging toxic water in it and the same water was entering Pakistan.
He said police action against industrialists contributing to the national economy in a big way was unjustified and against all norms. He suggested the government to form a committee, comprising the LCCI representatives, officials of the concerned department and area industrialists, to sort out the issue instead of launching a crackdown and spreading harassment among industrialists.