HYDERABAD, Sept 30: An official of the Environmental Protection Agency told the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Friday that the environmental tribunal was unable to prosecute cases of contravention of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 as the tribunal remained non-functional.
The director-general of the EPA, Naseer Jamali, also attended the court.
After going through the statement of the EPA the court observed that it was expected that officials would look into grievance of the petitioner at their level and suggest ways for resolving them.
The court perused site inspection report of Abdul Rasheed Qureshi, advocate, who was appointed as the commissioner to inspect a cotton factory, located on the Tando Allahyar road, Tando Adam, Sanghar district, in order to verify pollution of cotton dust with particular reference that what precautionary steps were taken by private respondent, Jamandas, a contractor.
Administrative in-charge Kishan Chand Mukwana, said that realizing the gravity of the issue guidelines were prepared for implementation by cotton ginning factories and the EPA was very much vigilant and aware of environmental problems and pollution caused by cotton ginning factories in Sindh.
He said for that reason the issue was focussed on the priority basis and different meetings were held with representatives of the Cotton Ginners Association to take effective measures to control dust and fibre.
He said the EPA had received a number of complaints from residents living in surroundings of cotton ginning factories regarding air pollution.
He said the EPA was very much vigilant and aware of environmental problems and pollution caused by cotton ginning factories in Sindh.
He said guidelines were a major step by the EPA to protect public health in particular and overall environment in general while guidelines were issued in 2000 and every cotton and ginning factory was directed to strictly implement measures because inhalation of dust and fibre affects the respiratory system.
He said during the site visit of factory in question by the EPA representative it was observed that factory management set up filter system which was not working properly and efficiently and some dust/fibre was still being emitted.
The EPA official said the system was unable to control dust and fibre and as far as diseases like asthma and tuberculosis are concerned, the petitioner could submit list and supplementary documents pertaining to affected people.
He said the then DG EPA in October 2004 had asked all district nazims to depute a team of technical officers to carry out monitoring of working of cotton ginning factories to check compliance with the EPA guidelines.
He said the filter system was there but it was not working satisfactorily thus some dust and fibre escapes from factory premises and polluted the air and the EPA was not satisfied with working of the system.
“EPA is very much committed to combat environmental pollution and expects cooperation from all stakeholders and individuals”, he said.
He said the main enforcement part of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 was establishment of the ET, comprising two technical members.
He said the ET was headed by Nabi Bux Talpur as chairperson but since two technical members of gade-21 were to be appointed the tribunal remained non-functional in Sindh.
Therefore, the EPA is unable to prosecute cases of contravention of the PEPA 1997.
The commissioner in his site inspection report said that he visited the factory in question on September 10 and said the factory management temporarily had made arrangements to reduce dust which causes pollution.