TAXILA: A tyre-derived fuel plant in Bun Bhola in Thatta Khalil union council was sealed by the local administration and health authorities after public complaints that the plant was polluting the environment and creating problems for the nearby population.

The raiding team led by Assistant Commissioner Shahzad Mehboob found out that scores of workers were working without safety equipment and no fire safety arrangements were in place. Mr Mehboob said under law, consent from the local population was mandatory to set up a tyre-derived fuel plant.

In response to a question, he said tyre-derived fuel was being used as an alternative to furnace oil.

The owners of the plant were also issued notices, he said, adding that, “the process of extracting fuel from tyres creates a foul smell and a gas is emitted during the process that may cause respiratory diseases among nearby residents.”

Local administration officials told journalists that action was taken against the unit because burning tyres for fuel releases large quantities of carbon, sulphur and dust pollutants into the atmosphere, many of which are carcinogenic.

“The oil extracted from tyres was transported to industrial areas in Taxila and caused air pollution when these industrial units burned it. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has already issued directions to stop these tyre-derived fuel plants,” said Aftab Hussain - office bearer of a local NGO.

Local residents, including Shahid Suleman, Waqar Khan, Zaki Abbas and Dr Ramzan Abdullah said serious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and heart ailments were spreading in the area because of pollution and hazardous fumes emitted by these plants. Stone-crushing plants and other industrial sites have already made life in surrounding villages miserable because of the unchecked dust, smoke, noise and water pollution.

This tyre-derived fuel plant was first sealed by the district environment department in March 2014 and later in May 2019, but resumed operations allegedly with support from officials concerned.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2021