KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to establish a department to handle all functions relating to environment, coastal development and climate change.

All the other departments have been directed to cooperate and support the newly created department, which will be called Climate Change, Environment and Coastal Development Department, as well as the environment protection agency (EPA) for clean and healthy environment.

The directives were issued by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while presiding over a meeting on climate change and environmental issues on Thursday.

The meeting, which was held at CM House, was attended by provincial ministers Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Jam Mehtab Dahar, Jam Khan Shoro, chief secretary Siddique Memon, additional chief secretary (development) Mohammad Waseem, principal secretary Alamuddin Bullo, senior member of the board of revenue Rizwan Memon, health secretary Saeed Mangnijo, finance secretary Sohail Rajput, EPA Director General Naeem Mughal and others.

The chief minister further directed the EPA to work out a comprehensive plan to control smoke-emitting vehicles, stop disposal of domestic and industrial waste into Phuleli canal and disposal of industrial waste into the Lyari and Malir rivers and its onward release into the sea.

“We all are responsible for destroying our clean and healthy atmosphere, the industrial affluent and domestic waste is being released into the Arabian Sea in Karachi and a similar attitude has been adopted in Hyderabad where Phuleli Canal has been polluted.

“Today, the province of Sindh, particularly the major industrial cities are facing serious environmental issues because the industrialists have not adopted the environmental safety measures. We have to be responsible not only for ourselves but for our children and future generations,” he added.Mr Shah also expressed concern over the felling of trees in the city. “What are the local agencies doing and why do the police remain tight lipped on this matter?” he asked and directed the relevant authorities to ensure that no tree is slaughtered without solid reasons and their prior permission.

Sindh Minister for Environment Dr Sikandar Mandhro despite being the environment minister, he was helpless because the drainage system belonged to local government, industries were governed by the industries department, land in coastal areas was owned by the forest department only.

“Industrialists are uncooperative and there is lack of coordination among different departments and agencies,” he complained.

Expressing his displeasure over the current state of affairs, the chief minister said there should be close coordination among the departments concerned. For this, he said, Climate Change, Environment and Coastal Development Department would be created so that all the functions relating to environment and climate change could be handled by one department only.

Earlier, Mr Waseem said a combined effluent plant with five units had been proposed to be set up at the cost of Rs11 billion. He said this would help stop disposal of untreated industrial waste into the sea. “This scheme will be taken to the federal planning commission for approval,” he added.

He said the government was taking initiatives for the implementation of National Climate Change Policy. In this connection, a provincial implementation committee and working group had been constituted comprising all relevant departments, he said.

The additional chief secretary added that 176 combat climate challenges had been identified.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2016