KARACHI: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned around 100 dairy farms located on the outskirts of the metropolis of strict action if they would not stop littering and discharging cow dung into the Malir river.

Acting on various public complaints regarding discharge of waste and dung into the Malir river, Sepa director general Naeem Mughal issued notices to the dairy farmers concerned directing them to immediately stop generation of litter/ cattle dung, removal of animal sheds from their present location within 30 days and restore the environment including removal of all dung piles for the purpose of the safeguard of the environment and human health.

Sepa also warned them that their failure to comply with the said directives would lead to a stern action under relevant sections of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014.

Earlier, a Sepa team visited different cattle/ dairy farms located at the Nagori Cooperative Dairy Farming Society Limited on Superhighway in district Malir and observed that more than 100 such farms were discharging cattle dung and animal waste into the ambient environment and the same was ultimately being drained into the Malir river, causing contamination and environmental degradation.

The Sepa chief also issued the Environmental Protection Orders (EPOs) separately to the president and secretary of the Nagori Cooperative Dairy Farming Society Limited.

Mr Mughal had also called management of the said cattle/dairy farms for a personal hearing, but they were failed to provide evidence of any significant improvement and their steps for mitigation of pollution to save the ecology of the Malir river.

The Sepa DG also wrote letters to district administration and police to take action against the dairy farmers concerned if they failed to comply with the directives within 30 days.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2022