LAHORE, April 10: Seven of the eight industries accused of discharging their effluent into canals and water courses have installed their own water treatment plants, the Environmental Protection Department submitted before the Lahore High Court on Wednesday.

The eight industrial concerns are before the court in a petition seeking closure of factories discharging waste into irrigation water. Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq, who is hearing the petition, asked the EPD on the last date of hearing to carry out a physical inspection of the measures taken by the respondent concerns.

EPD counsel Anjum Jawaid Khan inform the court on Wednesday that all but one of the eight factories had already installed waste treatment plants while the eighth was in the process of installing one.

Justice Haq allowed the petitioner to implead more industries but declined to remand the matter to the environment tribunal at this stage. He fixed May 6 as the date for final arguments.