18 November 2004	Thursday	05 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Nov 17: The second largest coastal village, its surrounding area and the sea are under dual threat of pollution by the industrial waste as well as the urban garbage thrown by the administration of different towns.

At least 100 trucks of garbage are dumped at seashore in the vicinity of Rehri village endangering human life, their livelihood as well as marine life. Once most attractive landscape at the Karachi coast is also losing its beauty rapidly due to increasing pollution.

Rehri having 35,000 population is surrounded by mangroves forests, but, the poisonous effluent discharged by the factories located in Landhi Korangi Industrial Area, Export Processing Zone and the tanneries pose great threat to mangroves and the marine life.

According to area fishermen, the industrial waste has destroyed marine life near seashore once rich in fish stocks. They said that they had to go to open sea in search of livelihood.

Ali Mohammed Arzoo, Councillor, Union Council Rehri told PPI that the UC administration approached the city government several times to stop dumping of waste at the coast but all in vain. At least 100 trucks carrying urban waste were still dumped near Rehri daily, he added.

He regretted that the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency was not playing any effective role in this regard. Despite having its headquarters in Korangi, the EPA has failed to stop the tanneries or other any factory discharging poisonous effluent nor it has taken action against any of the industries.

The Pakistan Fisher folk Forum chairman, Mohammad Ali Shah, said that the government authorities were making tall claims of taking effective steps to protect marine environment, but, the situation was contrary to it. -PPI