HYDERABAD, Aug 16: Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department, Zahid Junejo, requested the Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday to give him time to file comments in response to a public interest petition regarding disposal of contaminated and poisonous water into the River Indus.

The bench comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Yasmin Abbasi adjourned the matter till Sept 4.

The official informed the court that the report of experts had been obtained regarding disposal of water. An official of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Irfan Abbasi, also attended the court in response to an earlier notice.

Notices were issued to the director-general of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the additional advocate-general Sindh and the chief engineers of Jamshoro Thermal Power and Irrigation Department as they were cited respondents in the application filed by Munir Rajar and Abdul Majeed Rajar, both residents of village Ramzan Rajar. The application was converted into a constitutional petition by Justice Amir Hani Muslim in June.

According to their compliant, ever since the establishment of the power house in 1990, thousands of residents of Ramzan Rajar, Siddique Rajar, Chakkar Khan Rajar, Imam Bux Burfat, Yar Mohammad Kachelo, Bego Khan Mir Jat, Dehs Moro Jabal, Bada Raiyati and Petaro Jageer villages were suffering from environmental pollution.

Contaminated and poisonous water used for power generation in the power house was being disposed of in the River Indus through a drain while population living near the Kotri downstream consumed it, they said and added that around 1,400 acres had been destroyed due to it. Even the power house authorities had admitted the losses and paid compensation to villagers, they said.

They said that smoke emitting from chimney of the power house was also polluting air thus causing tuberculosis and stomach ailments among the population. They prayed the court to bind down the power house authorities to provide education and health facilities to villagers and stop smoke emission or find some alternate ways. They also prayed that water should be treated before being disposed of in the River Indus.