KARACHI, Jan 18: Removal of the solid waste dumped at various places industries in Korangi Town will be undertaken on war-footing in a week or so. This was stated by Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternative Energy Dr Saghir Ahmad while talking to Dawn here on Thursday.

He said the city government will provide special logistic facilities, along with adequate manpower, to the town administration concerned. He expressed his dissatisfaction over the situation and the state of affairs vis-a-vis the collection and disposal of solid waste, and stressed on an improvement to ensure a pollution-free environment.

He said that the industrial waste piled up over many years in Sector-F of the Korangi Industrial Area had been a source of concern, and added that he had talked to City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on the issue. He said that the city nazim had pledged to extend all cooperation in the immediate removal of solid waste in a safe and scientific manner and its disposal at the two official dumping sites.

Once the industrial area was cleared of all industrial and other hazardous waste, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency will be asked to go for a surveillance of any such dumping in future, he said, adding that the cleanliness process would be completed in two-three months.

Earlier, the minister chaired a meeting of the representatives of the Korangi Association of Trade & Industry and the Korangi Tannery Association. Nazim of Korangi Town, officials of the Cantonment Board concerned and experts from SEPA also attended the meeting which largely focussed on the issues pertaining to environmental degradation and public health.

The meeting decided to chalk out a plan for removal of industrial waste on a routine basis. It was stressed that town administration should device a proper system for regular lifting and disposal of wastes generated by industrial units in the area for which industries should pay a reasonable amount as service charges.

It was also decided that a committee would be constituted in every industrial area of the province to formulate and implement a coordinated policy for the scientific disposal of industrial waste.