HYDERABAD, Jan 26: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Monday issued notices to the secretary, environmental health, in charge, regional office, Environmental Protection Agency, Sindh , and the director general and the secretary, Environmental and Alternate Energy, on a petition.

Social worker Mumtaz Ali Chandio had filed the constitutional petition, praying the court to stop the release of harmful gas from a factory and order its shifting to the Nooriabad industrial area.

The petitioner said the Clariant Pakistan Limited was situated on the Petaro Road which was a residential area surrounded by villages and colonies. He said residents of the areas were suffering from asthma due to the release of the gas from the factory.

He observed that according to law such a factory could not be established in a residential area. Mr Chandio said he had sent several applications to higher authorities concerned to ensure that the release of the gas was stopped but to no avail.

He prayed the court to direct the Sindh chief secretary, health secretary and the director general, health services, to take action in the matter and shift the factory to the industrial area. The matter was fixed for Feb 11.