Threat to health of citizens : ‘Poisonous effluent being discharged in Keenjhar Lake’
KARACHI: Despite repeated reminders from Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB), the contaminated industrial water and residential sewerage of Hyderabad and Kotri continues coming from Kotri and Nooriabad and entering Keenjhar Lake through KB Feeder. The contamination entering KB Feeder is not only endangering human lives but the marine life and environment as well.
In this regard Commissioner Hyderabad Ahmed Bakhsh Narejo called a high level meeting at this office. Managing Director KWSB Misbahuddin Farid, DMD Planning Mashkoorul Hasnain, DMD Technical Services Iftikhar Ahmed Khan and Deputy Chief Engineer Aazam Khan as well as representatives of Irrigation Department, Environment Department, SITE limited, Police and Zonal Administration were also present in the meeting.
Managing Director KWSB briefed the meeting that not only contaminated industrial water but residential sewerage of Hyderabad and Kotri is entering KB Feeder, putting millions of citizens in Karachi at risk along with the marine life and the environment. The arrangements made in this regard recently are only temporary, he added.
Moreover, he stated that residents of the surrounding areas also cause the contaminated water to enter since they need drainage of the rainwater during the rainy season by opening the gates on the feeder and breaking the blockades. A serious and long-term practical strategy must be devised and implemented, MD asserted.
Commissioner Hyderabad briefed that a monitoring cell had been established under Dr Ahsanullah Siddiqui whereas the Deputy Chief of the monitoring cell would be Chief Engineer Aazam Khan. Water Board would be providing an office to the monitoring cell at Chilia.
This cell would not only collect the daily water samples from the affected points but would also present reports at Commissioner Hyderabad’s office and MD KWSB who would then look over the reports to talk to Cell Irrigation and Environment Departments.
Commissioner Hyderabad further explained that Iron Gates have been placed at the affected points whereas they are also paying attention to the matters pointed out by Managing Director Karachi Water & Sewerage Board. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner to seal all industrial units operating without treatment plants.
He said that Supreme Court has also directed all industrial units to establish their own treatment plants. Dr Ahsanullah Siddiqui of Environment Department said that the factories and industries must ensure pre-treatment. Chief Engineer SITE informed the meeting that Kotri Treatment Plant would be inaugurated soon, however, its capacity is half the total water that needs treatment. Ppi
” 
” 
” 
” 
