HARIPUR, Nov 12: Industrial waste and emissions from certain industrial units in Hattar have become a major source of environmental pollution which result in spreading diseases of various kinds among the residents of surrounding localities.

This was observed in a meeting of the district environmental committee, presided over by district coordination officer, Jehanzeb Khan, according to a statement on Monday.

Renowned educationist, Prof Taj Karim, President of Haripur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Malik Fareed and Tehsinul Haq also attended the meeting.

The committee members read out a report issued by the health department wherein it attributed the increasing respiratory and stomach diseases in Haripur to environmental pollution caused by industrial waste and emission.

The committee members expressed concern over what they termed it criminal attitude on the part of certain entrepreneurs of chemical, cement, fibre, chip board manufacturing units and oil mills of Hattar Industrial Estate, were negligently discharging industrial effluent in open drains and air.

Participants of the committee also took strong notice of the use of LPG cylinders in pickups and rickshaws and termed it a harmful exercise, which could any time put the commuters’ lives at stake they maintained.

They also came heavily on the poor state of cleanliness in Haripur and expressed their dissatisfaction over the performance of TMA staff, adding that lack of proper disposal system the stinking piles of solid waste are seen every where in Haripur. The committee suggested that the TMA should improve its garbage collections system besides arranging rickshaw trolleys for collection of solid waste from narrow alleys.

The DCO in his concluding speech expressed concern over the lack of interest by members of monitoring committees and asked them to submit evaluation reports pertaining to environment before the next sitting.

He asked the TMA for ensuring proper cleanliness and setting up of garbage drums in every street of the city. He also sought the help of citizens in proper disposal of the household waste rather than throwing it in the open drains.