KARACHI: No threat to marine life, says minister: Oil barge
KARACHI, Oct 10: The Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternate Energy, Dr Sagheer Ahmed, on Tuesday said that there was no danger to the marine life in the wake of sinking of a barge carrying 70 metric tonnes of oil near the Karachi Port on Friday night.
Speaking at a press conference at his office here on Tuesday, the minister dispelled the impression of any danger in the consumption of seafood.
He was of the view that large quantity of the oil was intact while the spillage would have been from 10 to 20 metric tonnes.
He informed that the Karachi Port Trust had summoned Dutch salvagers and that the issue would be resolved within a couple of days.
A committee has also been formed to assess the impact of this incident on the environment as well as the marine life. The minister said that he had assumed the charge as the environment minister hardly three weeks ago.
He said his first priority was to streamline the affairs of the department and to make it as effective and powerful as possible to help improve the environment of the city and the province.
He said that the establishment of environmental tribunals would help in the effective enforcement of the relevant laws and bring about improvements.
The minister pointed out that the construction work of the Korangi Effluent Treatment Plant of 10mgd capacity was almost complete. Its operation would also contribute towards tackling problem of pollution.
The minister said that the JICA would help install two monitors in Karachi for measuring air pollution. The Sindh Environment Secretary, Iqbal Dewan, was also present on the occasion.—APP/PPI
