SEPA has no record of treatment plants or septic tanks in factories: SWC informed

Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has no record of treatment plants or septic tanks in the factories of the province, Sindh Water Commission (SWC) was told on Wednesday. Naeem Mughal, Additional Director General (DG SEPA) submitted a list in the commission - headed by former judge of Supreme Court Justice Amir Hani Muslim, which does not carry the details as to which factory has installed either treatment plant or septic tank.
He has failed to provide even a list of the industries which were ordered to install treatment plants and or septic tanks or environmental friendly equipment during his tenure as DG SEPA or otherwise, the commission's written order stated.
It stated that SEPA has no documented record of the industries, which only after the intervention of the present commission that they have started documenting the industries, which is the most unfortunate aspect of this department. The Commission restrained from commenting further on the working of SEPA as it also required human resources and capacity building. "The relevant forum has never shown concern on these issues which in turn has magnified the agonies of the common man, the commission observed.
Meanwhile, Sindh Building Control Authority (SCBA) Director General assured the commission that he would invoke provisions of Sindh Building Control Ordinance to take action against the person who have raised construction in the absence of approved plan.
The commission ordered to issue show cause notices to officers of SCBA, who permitted illegal construction and didn't take action by directing DG SCBA to come up with the progress on the issue on November 26, 2018. Regional Director SBCA Hyderabad failed to persuade the Commission on all the construction approved by him converting residential premises into commercial and ordered to be stayed forthwith.
"Any further construction will expose him for the consequences, the commission ruled and directed him to appear in the proceedings at Judges Lodge Hyderabad where Mayor Hyderabad, Municipal Commissioner HMC, DG SBCA, DO HDA, Regional Director SBCA Hyderabad, MD WASA Director Planning HDA, Director Land HMC Hyderabad and Deputy Director SBCA Hyderabad should also be present.
On scarcity of water in DHA, it was decided that DHA, Cantonment Board Clifton and Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KW&SB) will hold a meeting and would suggest the way forward to redress the grievances of residents of DHA.
The commission directed Secretary Local Government Sindh to take steps to ensure development work without further loss of time by the Livestock Department for establishment Cattle Colony in Shikarpur district of the province. The commission directed Pak Oasis to supply 30,000 gallons per day through RO Plant Chachro and ruled that Civil Judge will monitor the supply of water through this RO plant.