KARACHI: The Supreme Court-mandated commission on water and sanitation in Sindh on Tuesday ordered an inspection of all sugar mills and distilleries across the province in order to suggest installation of treatment plants for treating effluent.

The head of the commission retried Justice Amir Hani Muslim directed Dr Ghulam Murtaza of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) to inspect these mills and distilleries along with the officials of Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) and submit report in three weeks.

The commission asked Dr Murtaza to carry out inspection and suggest the treatment plants which could be appropriate for treating the nature/volume of the effluent.

It also directed the official of PCRWR to circulate the schedule of inspection to mills/distilleries through the counsel for Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) Sindh zone and Pakistan Ethanol Manufacturers Association.

PCRWR, Sepa to inform court about installation of plants for treating effluent

The commission also asked the owners of sugar mills and distilleries to facilitate the proposed inspection.

At the outset, a lawyer for PSMA and other counsel along with some sugar mill owners appeared before the commission and informed it that there were 34 sugar mills in the province out of which 30 were functional.

Head of firm tasked with disposal of garbage summoned

While expressing dissatisfaction over the working of a firm tasked with disposal of garbage in South and East districts, the commission directed the chairman of the company to appear in person.

The managing director of Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) submitted a progress report regarding disposal of municipal waste in both districts and non-compliance of contractor with the terms and conditions under which the contract was awarded to them.

According to the report, door to door collection of garbage has not been started apart from two union councils, no manpower employed for sweeping in East while in South it was not a regular feature, repair and maintenance of vehicles and waste bins was not carried out, control centre lost utility due to want of technical support and complaint centres were also not properly functioning.

At the last hearing, the commission had summoned the contractor, but he did not turn up on Tuesday while his representatives were in attendance.

The commission said that it was unhappy with the working of the contractor and it was the third time he avoided to appear.

The representative of the contractor assured the commission that they will comply with the point raised by the MD SSWMB.

However, the commission observed that presence of company’s chairman was required as the staff deputed here has failed to deliver and directed the chairman to appear in person. However, the counsel for the firm sought time to produce the chairman.

SU asked to build boundary walls around ponds

The commission directed the vice chancellor of the Sindh University to build boundary walls around its four water supply ponds within three months.

The VC, Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat, appeared before the commission and said that he had already invited tenders for this purpose and sought time to construct the surrounding wall.

He also complained about encroachments on the main pipelines of water scheme supplying water to university. The commission asked him to submit a proper application in this regard.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2018