KARACHI, Aug 8: Expressing their concern over worst-ever environmental pollution prevailing in the Old City areas, residents of different localities have urged the relevant authorities to take prompt action
to protect the environment from further degradation.
They maintained that though there were numerous factors contributing to the high level of pollution, the key factor appeared to be round the clock functioning of small industrial units, most of them built illegally in the residential areas of the Old City. This needed to be paid immediate attention, they added.
These industrial units, the affected residents pointed out, were a major source of noise pollution and other hazards related to environmental degradation. "Those living around these units are exposed directly to all sorts of hazards," they maintained.
A survey of the areas shows that hazardous chemicals, dangerous to the public health, are used in many of the factories producing plastic goods, soap, spices, etc., and stocked within the vicinity of each unit located in narrow lanes of various localities, almost all of them densely populated.
It has also been observed that a number of cotton and ginning factories are operating in congested localities of Rangiwara, Singoo Lane, Usmanabad and adjoining areas of Nawa Lane where people have constantly been complaining of skin and respiratory diseases.
A senior doctor at the Lyari General Hospital confirmed that skin and chest appeared common in patients coming from the old city areas. Similar is the situation in Kharadar, Mithadar and certain localities of Saddar Town where industrial units have been set up in residential areas in violation of relevant laws.
There are cases where the owners or operators of such factories possessed a licence issued by the concerned municipal offices, people doubt that the unjustifiable permission could have been granted without the concerned officials having been paid illegal gratification.
In most other cases, the factories are run without any licence or permission. Owners of such units not only violate all the relevant rules and regulations, but also evade taxes.
Representatives of a community-based organization (CBO) observed that one of the major reasons for the mushroom growth of industrial units in residential areas of the Old City was cheap labour force, mainly consisting children.
According to them, a large number of young children are employed in these units without proper legal procedures. The labour force, they added, is paid neither a reasonable wage nor due facilities and incentives.
The survey shows that there are more than 200 such units operating in Lyari Town alone for quite some time, whereas the number in other areas is even bigger. Adding to the people's miseries are the warehouse accommodation made available to the small industrialists in almost every street of the old town, creating a lot of health and hygiene, as well as, social problem for local population.
The residents point out that most of the warehouses possessed a 'temporary lease' way back in the '40s/'50s and their lands were categorized as CDC plots. They maintained that since the lease of many plots had expired, these commercial plots, measuring hundreds of acres and located mainly in Rangiwara, Chawkiwara and Usmanabad, could now be converted into amenity plots.
They deplored that despite realizing sufferings of local people and their hue and cry, the authorities had always been obliging the industrialists by extending the lease term. As a result, they said, the problems were increasing manifold.
