KARACHI, Nov 24: In view of the pathetic environmental condition of islands off the Karachi coast and the unchecked discharge of solid waste and liquid effluents from the city into the sea , the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency has started work on the formation of a monitoring and liaison committee.

This was stated by the Adviser to Chief Minister on Environment and Alternate Energy, Noman Saigol, during his visit on Wednesday to the KPT marine pollution control department and two islands, Baba and Bhit, about one km away from the Keamari boat basin.

Talking to media men accompanying him during the visit, the adviser said that the consequences of the indifferent attitude of various agencies and groups, and society as a whole, towards the environment of the coastal areas was not only hampering the marine ecosystem, but was also causing a very adverse impact on the health of the people living there.

He said that the situation demanded a collective approach for addressing the environmental problems in the areas in question and that was why the issue would be taken up at the next meeting of SEPA. While on the other hand, the Director General of SEPA, Shafiq Khuso, would convene a meeting of different government agencies at the earliest.

The DG SEPA told media men that the issue of sea pollution, including the dumping of garbage and industrial effluents, as well as oil spills from ships near the coastal areas, were discussed during his and Mr Saigol's meeting with the chief of KPT Marine Control Department, Yahya Usmani.

It was resolved in the meeting that a liaison and monitoring committee for the coastal areas should be formed with the involvement of all stakeholders, including representatives of the city government, water sewerage board, industrial associations, SEPA, KPT, fisheries department, Fishermen cooperative society, environmental experts and other quarters concerned in order to create awareness and understanding, and develop a liaison between them for the successful implementation of environmental laws, he added.

Mr Usmani claimed that his department had been able to check pollution generated by maritime sources, including foreign ships, but was not in the position to clear the sea completely of waste dumped from city sources.

About 200 million gallons daily of industrial and untreated effluents were being discharged through the Lyari River into the sea, which should be stopped immediately in the larger interest of marine resources and human lives, he informed.

During their visit to the Baba and Bhit islands, the visitors came across pathetic living conditions there. The islands, once used by the Britishers for coal-storing facilities for their steam ships was now home to about 17,000 people belonging to the fishermen community, but without any amenity.

'The fishermen community plays a major role in earning foreign exchange for the country and contributes towards the economy's development, but their living conditions are still miserable,' said Haji Abdullah, Muhammad Ali and Mahmood Ibrahim, social welfare activists in the area.

One can see youths and children, with little educational opportunities, sitting in groups in narrow lanes and community places, playing snooker or involved in other pastime activities.

Elder men are either at sea fishing or earning their livelihood from hotels on the islands, small provisions or grocery shops, while women bring water for their homes from the nearby reservoir managed by a private party. However, the whole lot was found breathing in an utter filthy environment.

The streets or lanes were seen dirty and soiled, while the beaches and open spaces were unclean and muddy. People said, 'We are purchasing drinking water every day since there is no piped water supply, but are unable to buy and breath fresh air despite living at the seaside,' they added.

It was urged that lifting of all sorts of garbage from the entire area should be undertaken on a war-footing basis first, then small and safer dumping sites be established so that garbage collection and its transfer to government landfill sites could be made possible on a day-to-day basis.

The two islands have no road links with the city. Residents of the islands also stressed the need for face lifting of the island areas and erection of safe, spacious and environment friendly jetties by the KPT.