SC gives Sindh govt two weeks to file report on waste disposal plan

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave the Sindh government two weeks to file a report regarding the progress made in installation of combined effluent treatment plants for safe disposal of industrial waste.

SC’s three member bench headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed was hearing identical petitions filed in concern over environmental pollution in the city’s harbour and coastal areas owing to the release of poisonous industrial waste.

The court directed the CS to submit a progress report within two weeks warning him of initiating contempt of court proceedings against officials concerned in case the court’s directives were found to have not been complied with.

The court observed that no substantial progress was made despite the court’s repeated directions in hearings being held since 1992. The chief secretary was inquired about the steps taken so far for implementation of the court’s order regarding installation of sewage treatment plants to protect the sea from pollution.

The court observed that the sea was being polluted due to disposal of poisonous industrial waste and no efforts were being taken to stop the discharge. Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon submitted that the government was implementing the directions of the court and treatment plant projects were redesigned to stop the disposal of effluents into the sea.

Fencing M-9 motorway

The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the National Highway Authority and others on a petition against fencing at the M-9 motorway.

Petitioner Kamran Palarai and 88 others submitted that they were allotted land in Dunba Goth, at the Super Highway, where they had been residing for the past several years. The petitioners submitted that the NHA issued them notices asking them to remove their structures from the highway as a fence had to be installed along the M-9 motorway.

They submitted that fencing of the motorway would create problems for them in accessing their houses which is a violation of their basic right. The petitioners requested the court to direct the respondents to not install a fence at the M-9 motorway or provide the petitioners a passage to access their homes, as provided to other stakeholders. The court directed the NHA and others to file comments on the petition and in the meantime suspended the impugned notice sent to the petitioners.