MULTAN, July 20: The district environment protection department has recommended trial of a local fertilizer manufacturing unit for causing irreversible damage to the area environment.

A source in the environment office said a report had recently been sent to the provincial EPA about the adverse effects of ammonia leakage in the air from the Pak-Arab fertilizer factory.

He said the untreated discharge of highly toxic effluents from the factory to the Naubahar canal was another cause of environment degradation.

He said area people had lodged several complaints against the problem at various forums, including the ombudsman's office, but to no avail.

He said the federal ombudsman had directed the management of the factory last year to redress the problem within 45 days but the orders had yet to be obeyed.

The source said the district government had also taken up the matter but no action could be taken so far. He said an immediate action was needed to avert any catastrophe which might be caused due to the negligence on the part of the factory management.