BADIN, Dec 1: Residues of pesticides and their inappropriate introduction into air, water and land have left a negative impact on the environment of Badin in general and human health in particular.

It was revealed in different studies carried out by the IUCN Pakistan, the World Conservation Union.

Sharing the findings with the stakeholders of Badin on the topic “Status of obsolete pesticide dumps in district Badin and drinking water quality of the town”, Ahmed Saeed, head of Global Change and Nisar Ali Panhwar of Sindh programme IUCN, informed the participants that there were ten locations of obsolete pesticides stores in the district, where no record on the stock of obsolete pesticides, their shifting or relocations, dumping and disposal undertaken in the past was available.

They said such sites posed hazardous threats to human health and environment but there is likelihood of mixing of pesticides with rain water to sub-soil water.

Lives of the people settled close to these pesticides dumps are at risk while veterinary farms in the vicinity also face the same threat.

Stressing the need for proper disposal of obsolete pesticides, they urged further studies in this regard.

Ms Arifa Lodhi, manager and Rehmatullah Jilani, general manager of Suparco presented their findings on drinking water quality.

They said that the study includes a situation analysis report and water quality monitoring strategy for Badin town.

They said drinking water samples were collected from main source (Qazia Wah) water works (phase-I, II, III) and water distribution system and hand pumps.

The drinking water of Badin town was found polluted due to mix up of sewage and animal dung and wastages in water.

The survey team found the drinking water supplied to city dwellers hardly fulfilled the WHO standards.

They said though chlorination of drinking water sources is occasionally carried out by the local government officials, yet it is not in accordance with the prescribed quality and quantity and no chlorine was detected in most of the water samples collected in the city.