KARACHI, Nov 16: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency has warned sugar mills of legal action in case of unsafe disposal of waste water.

The environment agency is of the view that waste water generated from the sugar manufacturing process, particularly when cane crushing attains peak at mills, contains a very high-level of pollutants, which should not be allowed to go into watercourses or drains.

The release of untreated mill-effluents have serious adverse impacts on the environment and on the health of human beings and livestock, particularly those downstream.

A SEPA official said that after sampling of sugar mills waste water last year, at least seven manufacturing units were found discharging waste water, which contained pollutants exceeding the level permissible under the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS).

The release of untreated waste water into watercourses and discharge of emission of objectionable level was a serious violations of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997.

Cases against defaulting mills the previous year were still under process, added the official, informing that some of them had moved for improving their respective effluent disposal system.

According to a SEPA source, in view of the sugarcane crushing season and the nuisance associated with the unsafe disposal of waste water, all sugar mills in the province had been sent letters to comply with environmental rules, ensure a proper disposal of waste water, and control emissions.

The discharge of toxic air into the atmosphere could also result in causing several respiratory diseases, the source added.

Mills have been asked to avoid disposal of untreated waste water into irrigation canals, and treat all waste water in their in-house treatment plants before disposal.

While the mills lacking waste water treatment facilities have been urged to take immediate steps for establishing them.

The industrial units in question have also been asked not to burn bagasse as fuel without installation of proper filters for controlling smoke and other toxic air emissions.

In case of violations, penalties could be imposed that could extended from monetary fines to closure of premises or confiscation of pollution-causing equipment or machinery, it was further learnt.