HYDERABAD: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) shut down three factories in Hyderabad site on Wednesday as they had been working without waste water treatment plants and committing other violations of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014.

An agency team led by its Hyderabad regional office head Muneer Ahmed Abbasi along with police took action against Haji Shafi Paper Mill, Haji Ismail Paper Mill and Standard Pharma.

Mr Abbassi told Dawn that Sepa also shut another three factories, including Sakhi Shahbaz Industry (flour mill and oil plant), Dawn Bread and Rajput Industry (bread) on Tuesday in Hyderabad site because of violations. He said that all the six factories were working without waste water treatment and solid waste management plants.

Mr Abbasi said the agency issued notices, including environmental protection orders, under provisions of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014 to 25 factories of Hyderabad SITE on Feb 4, but factories were reluctant to abide by the laws.

Actions would also be taken against the rest of the factories, he said.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2016