KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the Cantonment Board Clifton and the Defence Housing Authority to file comprehensive reports over release of sewage and dumping of industrial waste into the sea.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui took exception to non-compliance with the bench’s earlier order passed around a year ago since no compliance report was field by the respondents.

At the outset, the lawyer for CBC did not file the report and sought more time.

The lawyer for petitioners informed the bench that the sea was being polluted by the sewage at Seaview near Chunky Munky amusement park and a fast food outlet.

The bench directed the CBC and DHA to file comprehensive reports within three weeks and in case of failure delinquent officers would be summoned for in-person appearance.

The bench passed the last order on Oct 10, 2019 when the lawyer for CBC had drawn its attention to a report already filed by the CBC before the water commission about the approval of plan for both buildings.

The counsel said that the building plans of Chunky Munky amusement park and McDonalds restaurant had not been approved by the CBC, but the same was approved and issued by the DHA.

He maintained that the sanitation branch of the CBC may be asked to file comments regarding dumping of sewage and industrial waste into the sea.

The bench said that in order to ascertain the ground reality, a notice was again issued to the DHA with direction to depute a senior officer well conversant with the facts of the case to appear before it along with approved building plan of both the buildings.

The World Wide Fund for Nature and other non-governmental organisations had petitioned the SHC in 2017 against dumping of sewage and industrial waste into the sea.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2020