HARIPUR, Sept 29: A plan to install treatment plants for the effluents of the industrial units in Hattar to save the local population from their hazardous effects seems to be in doldrums due to red-tape and procedural bottlenecks, Dawn learnt here.

The directives of the federal ombudsman pertaining to installation of  three treatment plants to protect the ecology of the surrounding areas from adverse effects of industrial effluents were ignored by the quarters concerned, sources said.

In December 2002, a resident of Dingi village, Sajid Khan, had moved an application with the ombudsman against the industrialists, the Sarhad Development Authority (SDA) chairman, the district Nazim, the district coordination officer and seven other persons for polluting the environment. He said the industries were draining out toxic effluents  in the stream which passed through various villages of Dingi, posing serious health risk to the people.

The ombudsman, according to the complainant, ordered the respondents to ensure installation of treatment plants on the three nullahs within 12 months.

It was reported that the Asian Development Bank had offered to grant Rs40 million for the installation of a treatment plant in the Hattar Industrial Estate and asked the district government and the SDA for the early completion of paper work in this regard.

The DCO had constituted an environmental committee, which, according  to sources, sought feasibility report on the plants from the authority.

The SDA reportedly submitted its report after a lapse of four months. It suggested the setting up of a plant at a place which would  cover phases 1, 2 and 5 of estate, while phases 3 and 4, housing most of the industrial units, had already been declared environmental hazards by the provincial Environmental Protection Agency.

Despite the fact that the ombudsman had set a deadline for compliance with the orders, the authorities failed to make any headway in this regard in nine months.

Sources said the delay was caused by the SDA and the DCO’s office had forwarded the report to the ADB for processing.

A nullah, Jhaar, which is meant to carry rainwater, flows through about a dozen villages with untreated effluents of the industries in violation of the National Environmental Quality Standard laws.  

The waste violated the standard quantities of 11 ingredients, including total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, chromium, copper, lead, iron, zinc and nickel.

Untreated discharge of the effluents is a cognizable offence under the Environmental Protection Act.

According to a study conducted by the EPA, Peshawar, in 1999, 38 industries drained out untreated toxic waste in open nullah and 79  others emitted hazardous gases.

The estate houses 26 textile, 13 chemical, six ghee and oil, 15 pharmaceutical, 14 packaging, 11 paper, wood and chip, 14 marble, cement and concrete, three ceramics, 15 engineering, nine steel, three  plastic and 13 other industries.

The villagers claim that at least 18 deaths have been caused by the toxic waste during the last three years.

According to a doctor, exposure to hazardous industrial waste might cause blood cancer, lung infection, prolonged cough, tuberculosis, eye infection,  eye itching, loss of eyesight, soar throat, renal disorder, tiredness and loss of memory among people.