KARACHI, Sept 8: An official scrutiny committee has been constituted to ensure maintenance of environmental standard by private and public organizations and determine the quality of potable water through its random sample testing at standard laboratories.

This was decided at a high-level meeting, which was chaired by CM's Adviser on Environment and Alternate Energy Noman Saigol on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Sindh Secretary Environment Shamsul Haque Memon, Director General Shafique Ahmed Khose, Dr Iqbal Saeed and others.

The committee would be headed by Noman Saigol. Naeem Ahmed Mughal, Mujtaba Baig, and one each from the Environmental Protection Agency in Sukkur and Hyderabad would be the committee members.

It was decided that the committee would also take samples of air from various areas to find out the ratio of impurities. The committee would recommend legal action against an organization/institution in case of its failure to follow environmental standards. The committee would submit its findings to the adviser.

At the meeting, the adviser also asked for early completion of all development schemes and projects relating to environmental upgradation. Meanwhile, Noman Saigol and Shamsul Haque alongwith a team of the environment department visited residential areas, located in Landhi and Korangi, and held open kutcheries.

Area residents told the adviser that potable water being supplied to them was being polluted by industrial waste. Due to this situation, many people had developed gastro problems, elder and children being the most affected, they said.

Mr Saigol asked the team to collect water samples from a few houses and send them for laboratory test to find out the kind of impurities. He announced that a centre had been set up at EPA office, where complaints regarding environmental issues would be received.

He also announced that a huge treatment plant was being installed at a cost of Rs550 million, which would ensure supply of purified water to the locals. The adviser asked the officials to keep vigil especially on industries, trade organizations, petrol pumps and other places which could directly affect environment and public health.

Noman Saigol recalled that the blast at the petrol pump in Defence had occurred simply due to negligence towards environmental concerns. About the alternate energy, he informed the meeting that various companies from London and Holland had shown interest and were discussing the establishment of 45KW wind mill units in the province which would help in availability of energy at lower rates.

On the occasion, the adviser ordered the officials concerned to establish the website of Sindh Environment Department and said that networking should be done with the help of provincial information technology department.

He directed his department officers for enhanced liaison with the departments concerned of other provinces for increased contribution in the fields of conservation and improvement. - APP