Sialkot tanneries causing environmental degradation

Tanneries, which have mushroomed in and around Sialkot over the last decade, are major factor in environmental degradation. At present, there are more than 248 tanneries, of which nine large, 79 medium and 169 small tanneries, which have been set up without planning and without proper system of waste disposal.
Undoubtedly, the leather and leather products' industries were representing one of the most important sectors of the national economy, but it had created numerous problems not only for human and marine life, but also affected the sub-soil water adversely. Most of the tanneries are functioning along with Sialkot-Sambrial road, Sialkot-Pasrur road, Sialkot-Daska road and Sialkot-Head Marala road.
According to an estimate, 90 million metres of leather is annually manufactured while chemical consumption is 65,000 tons for leather processing in tanneries in Pakistan, whereas 20 to 25 percent chemicals are used and absorbed, but 75 to 80 percent unused are liberated in industrial effluent.
Similarly, 40,000 ton toxic chemical are used in tanneries industries of the country of which 9,600 tons chemicals are being used and consumed by the tanning sector of Sialkot.
The effluents of these tanneries are being diverted to seasonal nullahs Aik and Bhed, which pass through the city and adjoining areas while tanneries located outside the municipal limits are discharging waste into Palkhu nullah.
The pure water of these seasonal nullahs that was used by the villagers for washing, irrigation purposes and meeting other needs have been turned into drains.
Another alarming development is that the sub-soil water of Daska, Sambrial and Sialkot tehsils is slowly becoming unfit for human consumption as well as for irrigation purposes and is leading to gradual fall in agricultural production.
The disposal of untreated wastewater into seasonal nullahs, sewerage, watercourses and in agricultural land has destroyed the environment in more ways than one. For instance, milch cattle, whose milk is being used and supplied to the city bathe in these nullahs and drink contaminated water. It has also been noticed that milkmen used polluted water for adulteration purposes.
According to medical experts, the pollution will reach dangerous levels in next few years if remedial action is not taken on war footing. They revealed that due to the use of contaminated drinking water, the tendency of aliment increasing rapidly and over 70 percent citizen are suffering from stomach and liver diseases, 60 percent dysentery and 85 stomach diseases in Sialkot, Daska and Sambrial tehsils.
They said that drinking water being supplied in Sialkot had become totally unfit for human use because in most of the areas the water pipes and sewerage pipelines inter-linked and sewages are mixing directly with the underground drinking water.
Keeping in view the growing threats of pollution, the waste management system may be adopted, industrial and municipal waste should be properly managed, while arrangements should be made for regular cleanliness of water reservoirs for avoiding the water born diseases.
It is high time that Sialkot Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and Sialkot District government should take immediate step for ensuring the hygienic drinking water to the citizen of the district. Besides, immediate step should also be taken for early establishment of industrial zone for tanneries in the area.