Environmental pollution on the rise in capital
By: Ali Hassan
ISLAMABAD: The capital is braving a number of environmental problems, including air and water pollution, poor management of collection and disposal of solid waste, industrial nuisance and traffic noise while the authorities concerned seem unaware of menaces.
It is learnt that environmental pollution is not only affecting health of citizens but also decreasing the natural beauty of the capital. The average temperature of the city is increasing every year, affecting greenery in the area.
Hazardous smoke emitting from factories and brick kilns, solid waste dumps, polluted water and harmful effluent of the industries, which is usually dumped underground, are also adding to the problems of citizens. While the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has not yet taken any notice of the situation.
According to a CDA official, 8,289 trees have been uprooted for expansion of several roads. The official said that they were removing Paper Mulberry and Eucalyptus trees only while other trees were being planted at alternate places. The official said that Industrial Area (Sector I-10 and I-9) in the capital was inaccessible for residential areas through a buffer zone. But now residential areas have been established very close to Industrial Area due to the buffer zones elimination by the development authority.
According to the official, more than 137 micro grams per hectare pollution in the capital is causing particulate matter in twin cities, adding that the figure should be 36 micro grams per hectare. Various surveys conducted by private and state-run agencies have showed that air and water pollution is increasing day by day, posing a grave threat to the health of local people. The Industrial Area, spread over 625 acres, was established in 1963 and it provides scores of employment opportunities for the people living in twin cities.
Daily Times has leant that there are seven kinds of factories operating in the Industrial Area. They include steel melting units, re-rolling mills, flourmills, oil and ghee industries, marble cutting and polishing units, pharmaceutical firms and metalworking and engineering units.
According to sources, out of the seven steel melting units, only a few have managed to obtain the anti-pollution equipment, which have now become partially non-operational due to lack of proper preservation and other problems.
Sources said the remaining units have been operating continuously without observing any safety measures to minimise the risk of air and water pollution. These units are producing metal dust, slag and gaseous emissions besides discharging untreated effluent in the main drain that eventually falls into River Soan.
The crude chemical effluents are released from marble industries, which pollute the soil and eventually percolate through it and enter into the groundwater. Thus it is making the drinking water health hazard for the public.
According to environmental experts, the major health problems linked with pollution such as gastroenteritis, breathing problems, psychological disorders and other diseases are increasing day by day. The attentiveness of lead has increased in air, which is causing memory loss, hearing disorders and psychological problems. Talking to Daily Times, CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid said that the development authority, with help of its environmental directorate, has implemented “Scribal Units and Online Monitory System” in factories to curb pollution.
“We have implemented the system in nine factories of the capital,” Sajid said.
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