KARACHI, May 12: One of the two chemical processing units of industries in Site was on Friday unsealed by officials of the Sindh industries department without taking into confidence the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency.

After conducting a survey of two industrial premises in Site, a team of officials of SEPA, headed by director- general Dr Iqbal Saeed, had sealed the two chemical sections on Thursday after finding that they were not being run in line with environmental laws and were proving sources for discharge of hazardous effluent and waste.

Site Association of Industries chairman Ameen Bandukda told Dawn that one of the units belonging to Gharib Sons Limited was unsealed by the director of Sindh industries.

When contacted, the SEPA director-general said he too had learnt about the event through media and termed the action of reopening the unit unlawful.

He said the units had been sealed for not observing environmental standards and as per law, only SEPA could unseal them and that too after ensuring that required measures had been taken.

He maintained that the adviser to the chief minister on environment, Noman Saigal, had already said that the industries in question had been found operating against the human health and lives and violating provisions of the Pakistan Environment Protect Act, 1997, and any relief to them could be allowed only when they regarded the laws and paid compensation to families of children and other people affected by industrial waste and unchecked discharge of chemicals.

When the secretary for the Sindh industries department was contacted on his cellphone in connection with the disputed unsealing late night, he said he was busy in a meeting at the Governor’s House and would like to talk some time later. However, he could not be reached later, despite attempts.

About 20 people, including children, had suffered chemical burn injuries due to dumping of chemical and toxic waste at an open place in Site area.

One of the children had lost his life and another had to undergo surgery for amputation of his feet.