KARACHI: Proscribed fertilizer plant still functioning
By Bhagwandas
KARACHI, May 20: Though the Sindh government has specifically directed that a fertilizer plant, which was not only adversely affecting the public’s health in the vicinity but was also not following legal environmental requirements, be shut down, it remains operational, it was reliably learnt here.
According to sources, the management of the plant, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), located in Mirpur Mathelo, claimed that it was not harming the environment or the people, and that it was contributing to the national economy by producing urea fertilizer. The management has requested the government to reconsider and review the plant closure directive.
The sources said that the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) had come to know of the issue through reports in the media. The agency later on carried out a survey of various villages – Saeed Khan Chandio Goth, Qazi Lal Baksh Goth, Wango Goth, Virand Khoso Goth and Khokhar Goth – in the vicinity of the plant before issuing the closure order.
Waqar Phulpoto of the Sepa, in his closure directive to the FFC plant, says that the majority of the affected people had informed the agency team that ammonia discharge on the night between April 5 and 6 was unusual and caused environmental damage as well as creating a health hazard in the area.
The majority of the people said that ammonia leakages from the plant were a frequent occurrence but this time, on the particular night, the leakage was beyond previous levels.
The Sepa directive further states that the plant has yet not been registered for SMART 2 – Self Monitoring and Reporting Tool – which showed that the FFC had not yet prepared a proper Environmental Management Plan for the plant. It can be assumed that the plant did not meet the NEQS -- National Environmental Quality Standards – during start up and upset conditions in the true sense, and violated the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act.
“It is therefore directed that plant operation should be closed/shut down …” Mr Phulpoto’s April 7, 2007 order, which was received at the FFC plant on April 8, concludes.
Brig (retd) Mohammad Ali of the FFC plant in his April 9 response says that no ammonia leakage occurs during plant start up, shut down or upset conditions, and in case of any ammonia leakage that can create an immediate danger to life and health, the plant’s disaster management procedure was started. During plant upset conditions all liquid effluents were managed inside the boundary.
The plant spokesperson also claims that on the reported date and time, the plant was operating normally. Besides, at the time the wind was blowing in the opposite direction of the reported villages. He said that some locals, with vested interests, indulged in such misinformation/defamation campaigns. He said that he would soon inform the Sepa regarding the implementation of Smart 2.
Brig Ali said that the plant was producing 2,100 metric tons of urea per day and was directly contributing to the national economy. Shutting down such a facility, without any emergency or cogent reasons, will not only cause great loss to the company but would also cause a loss to the nation. Therefore, a review of the directive is requested, Brig Ali urged.
Responding to Dawn queries on Thursday, Sepa Director General A. Malik Ghauri said that the plant’s closure was ordered after an agency team had surveyed the villages surrounding the plant and had gathered witnesses from numerous affected villagers.
The Sepa DG said that according to the son of one of the villagers who had died, there was a smell of ammonia gas at the agricultural field where his father died. But he did not want to file any complaint against any party.
He said that the FFC was directed to shut down its plant till the test reports came in and an experts’ committee decided the matter. But the plant continues to operate despite the government’s clear directives.
He said that the Sepa was understaffed and could not enforce its orders on the polluters. Citing an example of the highhandedness of industrialists, he said that a few days back he, along with a Sepa team, had gone to carry out pollution related tests in a cement plant on the Super Highway.
But the factory’s security officer, Maj (retd) Zahoor, on the directives of his employer, Fazal Dadabhoy, held the entire team hostage at gunpoint for a couple of hours till the Nooriabad police came and rescued them.
A case has been registered with the police, but the pollution continues, added Mr Ghauri.
