Discharge of filth into River Indus poses serious threat

The Indus River at Hyderabad and Kotri has been experiencing troublesome pollution, which is a grave threat not only for aqua life but also for people of downstream areas who use this polluted water, said an environmental researcher, adding strict implementation of the environmental rules is a must to check the pollution of River Indus.
"Bulk discharge of untreated gutter water and industrial pollutants of Hyderabad and Kotri is one of the root-causes of pollution of Indus River water, said Imran Ali, an MSc Final year student of Wildlife, at the department of Zoology, University of Karachi.
In the research study he conducted in Kotri Barrage area of the River Indus, he said the environmental rules were not being followed to save the river water from life- threatening pollution.
"Hundreds of thousands of cattle pens, cottage industries and laundry washing stands dots the banks of the River Indus in whole Hyderabad and Kotri areas," he said adding that they discharged untreated filth and pollutants directly into the river which was a grave threat not only for the wildlife of the river, but also for the population of downstream areas that uses this polluted water.
He urged that the government should make bound the civic bodies of Hyderabad, Kotri and other towns not to release their untreated gutter water into the river, as it was a grave threat for aqua life. He said proper sewerage water treatment plants should be established to check the release of untreated water directly into the river. He said the same rule should also apply for the industries of Hyderabad and Kotri and they should be compelled to install their in-house treatment plants.
"There is a dire need of increasing awareness amongst the masses," Imran Ali, emphasised asking the government, civil society and media to join hands to highlight this grave issue.
He reminded that the fish and other wildlife of river Indus was badly affected due to growing levels of pollution in the water of Indus river, particularly in downstream Kotri area. He said this polluted water was also used for the drinking purpose by the people of Hyderabad, Kotri, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Thatta and Sujawal and the government should treat this issue not only from the point of saving wildlife but also to save human population from the waterborne diseases.
"The department of zoology, University of Karachi, has been conducting many research studies in different areas of the province to assess the losses being sustained by the wildlife due to environmental and manmade factors," he said adding that the government agencies and departments related to wildlife should benefit from these valuable data-based researches so that the scholarly work of the students and teachers of the Karachi University could also benefit the society. All the developed societies respect and optimally utilise the research of their varsities, scholars and scientists, he said.
Imran Ali further said the River Indus was the lifeline of Sindh and saving it from pollution would also greatly help in sustaining diverse wildlife depending on the water of this important river.