KARACHI, March 30: The management of a milk processing plant has been called by the government to explain why it has not been following environmentally-friendly practices and to submit some relevant reports here on Monday, it has been reliably learnt.

Before taking any action against the milk processing plant located along the Indus River under the Environmental Protection Act, sources disclose that the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and Sindh Wildlife Department have cautioned its management that the plant’s operations are not in line with the environment management plan. The SWD and Sepa are of the view that the plant’s operations have been affecting environment and the Indus Dolphin.

The milk plant’s management, however, says that it is following the relevant laws and a meeting with the regulatory government agency is scheduled to discuss the issue.

Responding to Dawn queries, Sepa Sukkur chief Waqar Phulpoto said the milk plant was disposing of its untreated or partially treated waste into its unlined evaporation ponds and the Indus River. Besides, he said the effluent was being released to the riverbed where vegetables were cultivated and it was feared that some harmful components of the effluents might affect these vegetables.

The official referred to some of the previous reports, which showed the emission levels of CO and NOx from the plant higher than the levels prescribed under the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS), and said the plant’s management had not submitted all the monitoring reports so far.

While the noise level in the plant’s power house seemed to be more than the permissible level, he said the plant did not dispose of its solid waste properly. It was thrown along the road instead. Even the chemicals were not kept in a store, he said, adding that the chemicals were dumped in an open plot.

The official said Sepa had called the management to give their account before initiating any action against the milk processing plant under the Environmental Protection Act.

When contacted, SWD Sukkur chief Hussain Bakhsh Bhaagat told Dawn that the milk plant operations were having an adverse effect on the Indus Dolphin.

He explained that the plant had installed high-powered lights along the river that would be having a direct adverse impact on the degenerate eyes of the highly-endangered dolphin species. He said the situation had particularly affected the dolphin population of Sadhu Belo School. The dolphins had moved toward the banks where they became vulnerable now owing to enhanced human activities into their habitat, he added.

The official said the milk plant had been recommended under the Environment Management Plan to dispose of its effluent into Nara Canal. However, he said, the plant was releasing its effluent into the Indus River instead.

Responding to Dawn queries, a spokesman for the milk plant management claimed that being a responsible organisation it was following all the relevant laws. He insisted that the plant’s sewage was released after proper treatment.

When asked about the environmental concerns expressed by the government agencies, he said Sepa had approached the plant’s management and they would discuss the issue at a meeting scheduled for March 31, he said, adding that they had a meeting earlier also but some reports were not available then. He was confident that the environmental concerns of the regulating authority would be cleared as all the relevant reports would be submitted this time.