Tanneries, which have mushroomed in and around Sialkot over last decade, major factor in environmental degradation. At present there are more than 248 tanneries are functioning 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 goods 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, marine life as well as 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. Leather industry may be an exchange earner but it cannot be denied that it is responsible for great deal of environmental pollution.
According to an estimate 90 million meter 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 in 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.
It may be mentioned that during the monsoon season the affluent of these tanneries flood vast tracts of agricultural land and damage standing crops. 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 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. Later polluted milk supplied in the city markets. Apart from tanneries various other industrial units have been set up haphazardly in the city, exposing people to all manner of pollution. Smithies are a major source of noise pollution.
Heaps of garbage could be seen everywhere and drains have not been desilted for years. According to medical experts, the pollution will reach dangerous levels during few years if remedial action is not taken on war footing. They revelled that due to the use of contaminated drinking water the tendency of aliment of 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 interlinked and discharge of sewages from homes are mixing directly with the underground drinking water.
However, a Cleaner Production Centre Sialkot has been set up which is a joint project of TDAP, Norwegian Agency for Cooperation and Development (NORAD) under the management of Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PGMEA).
Meanwhile, the social circles of the area had urged upon the government that the project of established of Sialkot industrial zone for tanneries should be given a practical shape to help cope with the growing threats caused by the pollution.
It may be added that necessary arrangements are being finalised for setting up an ultra modern Tanneries Zone on 384 acres of land costing Rs 40 crore in Sialkot. The Punjab government will provide Rs 30 crore while stakeholders would contribute Rs 10 crore in this tanneries zone project and its completion of the project all existing tanneries would be shifted into the zone.
The step was being taken to tackle with growing pollution threats caused by the functioning of ill-planned tanneries in and close to Sialkot, which are not only posing serious threats to human life but degrading the environmental affluent water treatment plant would also be installed with the help and assistance of donor agencies in the tanneries zone.
The accomplishment of the project would not only ensure pollution-free environment to the dwellers living in tanneries cluster but also help in protecting agricultural land, sub-soil water from contamination and save the marine life. Meanwhile, the people belonging to various walks of life including businessmen urged upon the government that the proposed project of tanneries zone should be given practical shape to facilitate the common man.
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