MULTAN, Oct 6: The environment protection department in the district has recommended institution of cases against six gas companies causing pollution.

In a letter to the Punjab EPD, District Officer (Environment) Mian Khalid Mahmood informed the authorities that the gas companies had started working in the area without the approval of the environment department, which was in violation of the Section 12 of the Environment Protection Act, 1997.

The Supreme gas industries, K A Gases, Pak gases, Khair Enterprises, Sunrise Industries and Salman brothers have set up their plants around the Pak-Arab Fertilizers Limited factory on the Khanewal Road.

These firms reportedly procure gases from the PAFL and later process those to produce carbon dioxide on commercial scale to sell it to beverage firms and to the concerns involved in the business of fire extinguishers.

The environment officer also accused the gas companies of discharging effluents in open drains in the vicinity, thus causing much damage to environment. He urged the provincial authorities to submit challan against these companies with the Environment Tribunal Court.

Meanwhile, the local department has also issued a notice to the eateries working on the premises of district courts for polluting environment and endangering public health by running the outlets under highly unhygienic conditions.

The department has advised the contractors of courts' canteens to properly wash and sterilize crockery before every use and dispose of the waste at an appropriate place instead of throwing it in the open.

In case of non-compliance, the contractors can be tried under section 145 of the EPA, 1997, under which they can be imprisoned for a month or fined Rs5,000 or both.