HYDERABAD, Oct 18: The inquiry committee appointed by the Sindh chief minister to probe into the contamination of water and subsequent deaths in Hyderabad between May and June has not yet finalized its report despite the directive of a division bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, to do so within 15 days.

According to a notification, issued by the provincial government on June 11, the committee was required to finalize its findings within 15 days. During a hearing of identical constitutional petitions and suo motu proceedings in the matter on Sept 16, a division bench of the high court, Hyderabad circuit, comprising Justice Atta-ur-Rehman and Justice Amir Hani Muslim directed the committee to finalize findings and submit its report within 15 days. The court expressed its displeasure over the inordinate delay in completion of the inquiry.

The terms of reference of the committee have been modified by the court as two more objectives of the inquiry have been added. Now the committee is required to also ascertain whether the irrigation department is authorized to release polluted, stagnant, effluent water into the river or canals from where water for drinking and cultivation is supplied and whether effluent water can be discharged into water which is for human consumption and flows either in rivers or in canals.

The ToRs were modified in light of the order passed on Oct 9, 2003, passed by a bench comprising Mr Justice Mohammad Roshan Essani and Mr Justice Amir Hani Muslim, ordering prosecution of industrialists whoare committing violation of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997 in order to restrain them from discharging effluent water or waste into the Kalri Baghar (KB) Feeder Canal from their industries.

Now the identical petitions have been fixed for hearing for Oct 21 by the court to be heard by a bench comprising Justice Syed Zawar Hussain Jafri and Justice Azizullah Memon. However, the CM's committee has yet to finalize its probe in the matter by holding more meetings.

Headed by Irrigation Secretary Ashfaq Memon with Mirpurkhas DCO Siddique Memon, agriculture secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi as members, the committee was appointed by CM Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on June 11, following deaths of more than 42 people, including women and minor children, in Hyderabad and its vicinity as a result of water-borne diseases, spread due to the supply of contaminated water by Wasa.