HYDERABAD, Jan 19: Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit bench has directed Sindh Law Secretary to submit a report on non-constitution of Environment Protection Tribunals (EPTs) in the province after the court was informed that these tribunals had not been constituted with the result that cases regarding violations of environmental laws could not be referred to them.

The bench comprising Mr Justice Mohammad Moosa K. Leghari and Mr Justice Sajjad Ali Shah also directed the Director-General Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Sindh to personally inspect each and every unit of rice mills in Shaheed Fazil Rahu Taluka of Badin district and submit report in respect of each factory on February 1.

The order was passed on Wednesday and obtained on Friday on a constitutional petition, filed against six rice mills owners by Bashir Ahmed Rahujo, seeking their shifting on the ground that they were causing environmental pollution.

The court had earlier issued notices to District Nazim and DCO Badin, Taluka Nazim Shaheed Fazil Rahu, Director-General EPA, Regional Director EPA and six rice mills owners.

The mills were owned by Dewan Moti Lal, Seth Phetan Mal, Seth Mukesh, Seth Hotumal, Seth Gagan Mal and Dr Prem Chand.

The petitioner said that these mills were causing environmental pollution in Shaheed Fazil Rahu taluka. Initially these were small units but within past two to three years they had been turned into big industrial units without installing smoke emission equipment and other industrial waste control measures.

He pointed out that private respondents' mills are located on the southern side of taluka hospital and drinking water supply pond of the taluka.

He said that respondents are influential as such lawlessness is prevailing as the officials concerned do not perform their duties.

He further said that for last three years residents of the taluka had been approaching respondents that rice mills should be shifted from the taluka but nobody was paying heed.

He further said that medical superintendent of taluka hospital wrote a number of letters to different authorities including respondents but all in vain.

He maintained that he and other residents also approached respondents and submitted applications but to no avail. He further said that human rights activists also submitted representations to authorities but without any result.

He prayed the court to direct respondents to perform their official duties and take proper action against rice mills owners. He requested the court to order shifting of rice mills outside the taluka.

Assistant Advocate-General (AAG) Sindh, Rasheed Qureshi, placed a letter on record dated January 1, signed by Assistant Director EPA, enclosing an affidavit purported to have been signed by owners of certain cotton ginning factories to the effect that owners have assured hat they will install necessary equipments by May 31.