February 15, 2007	Thursday	Muharram 26, 1428

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

HYDERABAD, Feb 14: Around two cusecs (1 million gallon) of effluent generated by the Kotri-based industrial units is once again being released into Kalri Baghar (KB) Feeder on daily basis. The feeder supplies water to Karachi and Kotri.

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held in Karachi a couple of days ago which was attended by the director-general of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and others, said an EPA source.

It was learnt that on Wednesday Dr Mohammad Ahsan Siddiqui of the National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry of the University of Sindh and local officials of the EPA took samples of water being collected in six oxidation/facultative ponds, set-up by Kotri SITE near the inlet which releases water into the KB Feeder. Findings on the water sample would be available in next three to four days.

The district government of Jamshoro is maintaining a discreet silence over such a vital issue and has not intervened in the matter.

“Yes it is still extremely hazardous. You can't stand near the oxidation ponds even for 10 minutes because of overpowering smell. I don't think that this arrangement is going to make any difference in quality of effluent that is being released into KB feeder”, responded Dr Siddiqui to a query by Dawn.

He said that when he had tested quality of effluent some time back, it was quite hazardous and it was not recommended that it should be released into the KB feeder.

He said that many a dyeing mills were operating in the SITE whose effluent is collected in the much-talked about ponds.

“I have already stated that yet another Manchhar is in the making if measures are not taken to rectify the situation”, said Dr Siddiqui while referring to sampling of water in May 2004 when Hyderabad and its surrounding areas were hit by a water crisis following release of Manchhar Lake's poisonous water into the River Indus.

The industrial waste, being disposed of in KB feeder - an off-taking canal of Kotri barrage - is supposed to be harmful for human consumption, if it is released without any treatment.

The mill owners, whose units are working in the Kotri SITE, always release water into KB feeder, insisting that it is not as hazardous as it was believed to be. They argue that no chemical industry is working in Kotri so any question of release of chemical effluent does not arise.

The Environmental Protection Agency had raised objections on the release of water from industrial area in KB feeder after testing of water samples while pleading that such an action would pollute the KB Feeder, the only source of water for residents of Jamshoro and Kotri.

The EPA officials have time and again objected to the release of water.

Two researchers viz; Manzoor Ahmed and Irshad Ahmed Bohyo of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, conducted a study to determine quality of water of KB Feeder following directives by the EPA. “Funding for the study was to be made by SITE but it did not release funds to them" said an EPA source.

The source, while referring to the study, said that it had also not supported oxidation pond as it called for a proper advanced technology treatment plant.

SITE Chief Engineer Mohammad Bux Soomro told Dawn that industrial waste was being treated in oxidation ponds through natural cycle and was beneficial for cultivation.

He said that people often clashed with each other over obtaining water for cultivation in nearby localities. He added that a two feet pipe was being used for disposing of water into KB Feeder after effluent went through natural cycle of treatment in the oxidation ponds of 550x150 which took around 15 to 20 days.

He said that when KB Feeder was built, a provision for the present inlet was kept because natural flow of industrial waste was towards the hilly area. “Not only effluent but domestic waste also finds its way into KB Feeder”, he said.