The proposed coal terminal at Karachi seaport is believed to add to health woes of residents of Keamari who are already suffering from the grim spectre of undergoing from the uncovered handling and storage of the black dust at the harbour. The continuing discharge on open berths of Karachi harbour and its subsequent storage at groin yard has badly affected the health of residents, the locals said on Monday.
They said children and aged people are major target of coal dust-driven respiratory diseases, besides the dockers and other working staff. At present, coal is imported by private companies to supply to cement manufacturing sector at present, source said.
They said the discharge of coal dust on open berths in East Wharf still continues which the port authorities are dealing with manually. "Residents living close to Karachi harbour are facing respiratory problems from the coal discharge at the port," they said. The Federal Ports and Shipping Minister, Kamran Michael has recently unveiled a plan proposing to set up a coal terminal at Karachi port on five dedicated berths - from 10 to 15 in the East Wharf.
From the terminal, supplies of coal will be made to the several proposed power generation plants in different parts of the country, the plan says, as the minister expected the country's largest seaport will handle at least 17,000 metric tons of black dust a day.
At present, Karachi seaport is handling around three million tonnes of imported coal a year, which caused health hazards to marine life, fishermen of inlands and resident in hinterland with respiratory diseases, sources said.
"Our kitchens and bedrooms are full of coal dust infecting portable water and edibles," said a local resident, adding the authorities appeared to be least concerned to environment protection rules. Fishermen said the coal dust discharge and its storage close to the shores have caused a significant harm to the islanders and marine life. "The seaport workers and fishermen hunting in port's vicinity are the primary victims of coal dust diseases, besides seabirds, and marine animals," they said.
When the federal ports and shipping minister was asked, he said "for the future we are taking steps to ensure protection to environment," adding that the proposed terminal at Karachi port will serve as a prime coal supplier to the new power plants in the country. Coal is piled up in large amounts at groin yard which is situated close to the coast, sources said, adding that the big trucks make a countrywide supply of the black dust from the storage yard.
"Coal dust from its heaps at the yard spill over in seawater, nearby residential areas and tiny islands," they said, adding that "the dust is usually seen spread on both sides of its transportation route falling off the uncovered trucks". Clerks of a private terminal at the port told Business Recorder that labourers and other staff face breathing problems from the coal discharge. Similarly, the workers at nearby oil refineries confront the same respiratory problems from coal dust. Embers which the heaps normally trigger are posing a serious threat to the flammable sensitive oil facility at the harbour, they said.
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