Action ordered against factories denying environment inspectors entry

The judicial commission probing the non-provision of clean drinking water, sanitation and healthy environment to the people of Sindh has ordered the registration of cases and action against factory owners who prohibited judicial magistrates and environment inspectors from examining their factories.

The commission, headed by Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim, was informed on Saturday by the environmental agency inspectors that 12 factories were again visited after the commission took notice, however, the administrations of six of them again restrained the officials from inspecting the factory premises.

The commission was earlier informed by the judicial magistrate (West) that 400 factories in SITE area have been inspected out of which 77 factory administrations denied inspection and restrained the judicial magistrate and Sindh Environmental Protection Agency’s officers from entering their premises.

Some factory owners submitted that their administrations were not present due to it being an off day on Saturday and assured complete cooperation to the commission and judicial magistrates during their visits.

The commission observed that EPA was not bound to intimate the factory about the inspection and directed the additional advocate general to take action against factory owners who refused inspection after the registration of cases against them under the relevant laws.

The commission also took notice of unplanned high-rise constructions in Karachi and Hyderabad and inquired from the director of town planning as to how high-rise buildings have been allowed to be built when there was a shortage of water.

The commission questioned the Sindh Building Control Authority director general on how so many housing schemes have been approved since 2014 and directed him to submit details of such housing schemes.

The commission lamented that Karachi and Hyderabad are heavily-populated cities but unfortunately constructions have been allowed without proper master plans for these urban areas. It directed the chairman of planning and development commission to submit master plans for Karachi and Hyderabad on the next date of hearing, observing that it will be constrained to stop high-rise constructions until the completion of the master plan.

The entire water and sewerage system has been destroyed due to lack of proper town planning in Karachi and Hyderabad, the commission observed, adding that buildings have been constructed even on rainwater drains.

Taking notice of the burning of solid waste and garbage along Korangi Causeway, the commission directed DMC Korangi to ensure that no garbage burning is allowed in future.

Taking notice of changes in the K-IV project for water supply to Karachi, the commission members stated that they would not overlook irregularities in the highly-anticipated scheme.

P&D Board Chairman Mohammad Waseem informed the commission that the federal government was not releasing required funds despite approval by the executive committee of national economic council. The commission then issued notices to finance and planning secretary to explain non-release of funds.