KARACHI: Residents of Saleh Muhammad Goth in Malir demanded immediate action against three textile mills allegedly polluting air, water and soil in their area by emitting hazardous gases and discharging chemical waste.

They organised a rally, which was also joined by women and children in large numbers who raised slogans against the “illegal factories” and official indifference towards their plight.

“For the past three years, we have been raising our voice on this serious violation of provincial environmental laws and human rights that today threatens our lives,” said Mehrunisa Baloch, one of the rally participants, adding that the industrial units emitted hazardous gases almost the whole day.

Highlighting villagers’ suffering, Baloch said the air had become increasingly suffocating especially for the ailing, children and the elderly. “Children often complain of burning sensation in throat while many of us have developed skin infections. These health challenges are a huge burden on poor families, barely surviving on two meals.”

Sepa official says gaseous emissions of the industrial units in question were within permissible limits

According to villagers, all top officials, departments and offices concerned have been contacted in this regard multiple times, but to no avail.

They shared with the media the documentary evidence of their complaints that they have so far submitted to officials and departments in three years.

They included the deputy commissioner Malir, the area member of provincial assembly, the Chief Minister Secretariat, provincial minister of environment and climate change, federal environment ministry and the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa).

“We don’t know where to go and report this complaint. Everyone seems indifferent and the system lacks accountability,” shared Arshad Soleh, alleging that the mills were illegally operating on agricultural land.

He claimed that the mills operating in the village for several years now turned into a health hazard for the people three years back when they switched their boilers from costly electricity to cheap coal.

The industrial units, he alleged, were also releasing hazardous chemical waste that also threatened public health as villagers used underground water for drinking purposes.

‘Mills operations are not against environmental regulations’

Speaking to Dawn, Munir Ahmed Abbasi, Sepa’s deputy director-technical, explained that the environmental watchdog had inspected the three mills but didn’t “find their operation against environmental regulations”.

“We have been pursuing the matter for quite some time. We haven’t found them engaged in any practice that violates provincial environmental laws,” he said, adding that their gaseous emissions were within the permissible limits.

“The mills export their products and periodically submit their compliance reports to the department,” he said, adding that two units were being run on gas while the third one used wood.

About the land, he said issues pertaining to land didn’t come under Sepa’s jurisdiction. “But, we know that the status of the land on which this village exists and its adjoining areas was changed from agricultural to industrial in 1999.”

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2024