KARACHI, June 8: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has allowed Fauji Foundation to restart its Mirpur Mathelo fertiliser plant for 15 days under “strict safety measures”, Dawn has learnt.

However, reliable sources say that the plant never suspended operations in the first place, violating directives issued by the environment watchdog.

In early April this year, Sepa took notice of complaints of ammonia gas leakage reported by residents of the villages surrounding the plant, and a joint survey was conducted of the affected villages by Sepa, journalists and officials of the Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC). Subsequently, on April 7, Sepa directed the FFC to suspend operations.

The FFC asked Sepa to review the closure directive and according to Sepa Director-General Abdul Malik Ghauri, continued operations regardless.

On May 26, a meeting between FFC representatives and Sepa officials was held in the Sindh Chief Secretary’s office. The Managing director of FFC, Lt-Gen. (Retd) Munir Hafiez, gave assurances that an inspection would be carried out by an independent consultant or accredited laboratory, Sepa officials and FFC technical officers within 15 days.

The same day, Sepa issued the letter allowing the resumption of operations, directing that, “during the said period, the plant may continue its operations with strict safety measures and round the clock monitoring of necessary parameters.” The 15-day period during which FFC is allowed to operate ends today (June 9).

On June 1, Lt-Gen (Retd) Hafiez sent a letter to the Sindh Chief Secretary bearing the subject “Fauji Fertiliser Co. Ltd. — Mirpur Mathelo Alleged Environmental Issues.” Marked “For your personal viewing”, it included copies of a police report that the Ghotki DPO had sent to Mr Ghauri, DG Sepa. In this report, Ghotki SHO Shams Dharma states that he received information regarding a leakage of ammonia gas in Mashallah Ice Factory. Upon reaching the spot, the factory contractor and manager Vishandas told SHO Dharma that a small quantity of ammonia had leaked but the situation had been controlled by shutting off the pipe. The police report – which states that Vishandas is Hindu – says that the gas leak did not lead to any loss of life or property.

According to Sepa, the FFC’s Mirpur Mathelo plant has not been registered for the Self Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART 2), which indicates that the FFC has not prepared a proper Environmental Management Plan for the plant. It can safely be assumed, therefore, that the plant did not meet National Environmental Quality Standards during its start-up and “upset” conditions and violated the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act.

Informed sources believe that further action on the issue is unlikely since environmental protection is at the bottom of the government’s priorities. Furthermore, they say, Sepa rarely takes action against polluters since many such groups are influential enough to persuade witnesses and manipulate evidence.