Bin Qasim Association of Trade & Industry (BQATI) has agreed in principle to install septic tanks or pre-treatment plants or soft tanks in the industries falling it its area by volunteering itself with Port Qasim Authority (PQA) for initiating the plantation within and outside the factories.
BQATI showed its readiness at the proceedings of one-man judicial commission headed by former Justice Amir Hani Muslim where it was agreed that septic tanks or pre-treatment plants and or the soft tanks would be installed as per the standards given in the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014.
The commission ordered that the undersized pipe lines of sewerage system should be replaced and the lines of bigger diameter, as and when required, shall be laid within the areas.
The representatives of the industries showed serious concerns about the water shortage in the area. The commission ordered that its focal person Asif Hyder Shah will coordinate with the KW&SB and will make efforts to minimize the grievance of the industries.
The chairman PQA and representatives of industries have also volunteered for initiating the plantation within and outside the factories. It will be a step towards making the port green. The commission appreciated the efforts of the industries and the PQA and stated these steps will have a positive impact on the climate and the industrial waste and other sewerage waste which is presently being discharged untreated in the sea will be reduced substantially.
The commission was apprised of the activities of Karachi Conservation (an NGO which is a private initiative and Port Qasim specific), which is also proactive as far as environmental hazards are concerned and it has been taking steps at times to minimize it.
An assurance has been given by industrialists as well as PQA that the treated water within and outside the industries would be utilized for plantation, for which they will take steps on their own to see that the treated water should not be discharged in the sea instead it would be utilized for making the Port green. The secondary treatment plant installed at the PQA shall be utilized to its optimum level and shall also be upgraded.
They will also examine the need for the two other secondary treatment plants which would cater to the need of two other zones namely North West Industrial Zone and Eastern Zone as the present Treatment Plant only takes care of South West Industrial Zone.
Meanwhile, The commission heard the Chairman Fishermen's Cooperative Society and the M D Karachi Fish Harbor about septic tanks at seafood processing plants.
It was transpired during the meeting that there is serious mutual distrust between the Karachi Fishermen's Cooperative Society and Karachi Fish Harbor Authority on the issues with regard to the agreements which are claimed to be executed between the parties at times. The commission ordered that Chief Secretary Sindh should take all stakeholders on board, which are in the business of fisheries and provide a way forward to the commission.
The commission observed that Chief Secretary Sindh is aware of the objective of the commission, which inter-alia is to see that no discharge of solid and liquid waste into Sea takes place. Besides, it is the assignment to the commission that it should ensure that the environment friendly atmosphere is created on the seashore.
It noted that at present, the seashores are full of filth on account of multifarious factors, which need to be attended immediately.
The Chairman Fishermen's Cooperative Society, MD Karachi Fish Harbor Authority and MD Korangi Fish Harbor Authority and DG Fisheries Sindh have their independent grievances which are interlinked. The Secretary Livestock and Fisheries and the Secretary Fishermen's Cooperative Society need to be called to resolve the issues.
The commission directed that a meeting may be held by the Chief Secretary Sindh within a week to provide a way forward so that the commission should submit a report to Supreme Court on the issues.
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