KARACHI, Nov 12: The Sindh environment department has set up a cell to address people's complaints related to environment. The complaint centre will start functioning round-the- clock from Dec 1. It would be headed by director- general, EPA, Shafique Khoso.

This was decided in an EPA meeting here on Friday which was presided over by Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Environment and Alternate Energy, Noman Saigal. The meeting also approved appointment of a monitoring officer to make the performance of the complaint cell effective. Name of the officer has been kept secret so that his reports to the advisor are not influenced.

Other members of the cell include Yahya, Irfan Tunio, Waqar Phulpoto. NGOs would be represented by Nighat Yasmeen and there would be doctors' representation as well.

The cell would register complaints regarding air pollution, garbage and refuse, water pollution, drainage system, hospital and industrial waste and other issues leading to environment degradation.

The telephone numbers of the cell would be 5065620 and 5065621, and fax No is 5065940. Advisor on Environment and Alternate Energy has also constituted a sub-committee of the cell which would be led by DG, EPA, Shafique Khoso.

The committee would help find out solutions of the complaints in coordination with the concerned departments, like health, education, transport, local government, city government, fisheries and livestock. -APP