F.P. Report
KARACHI: Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has disposed of total 217 complaints related to various types of environmental violations which were received from people of the different area of the province. Before their disposal, all the complaints where first technically and legally examined to take most appropriate action as per the provisions of Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014 to control all types of pollution for the purpose of ensuring sustainable development in the province.
Another 76 complaints of similar nature are being disposed of presently while their environmental and legal aspects are being examined so that they may also be disposed of effectively in accordance with the environmental regulations of the province.
Out of total 217 complaints disposed of so far, 112 were from Karachi region, 24 each from Hyderabad and Sukkur, 14 from Mirpurkhas and 12 from Larkana while 31 were from the jurisdiction of Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department, Government of Sindh.
In a meeting of Public Complaints Cell of the Department held under the chairmanship of the Secretary Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department Government of Sindh Khan Muhammad Mahar, he was informed that all the complaints received so far mostly pertain to all the three major types of pollution i.e air, land and water. Most of the violations were reported to have been committed in far flung areas and vicinities of towns and cities of the province. Owing to lack of access of any appropriate monitoring over there, environmental violations were being committed openly in such places.
The Incharge of Public Complaints Cell of SEPA, Additional Director General Waqar Hussain Phulpoto informed the Administrative Secretary that usually sizeable time is required to examine each complaints from both technical and legal point of view. However, despite of it, SEPA considers it as its one of the top priorities to dispose of public complaints as there is no question of delay to address the public grievances. Therefore, most of the complaints in SEPA are entertained without any unnecessary delay.
Secretary was also informed that support of local police is mostly required for taking action to address the public complaints of far flung areas. For ensuring availability of police force at stipulated time of action, they are to be informed well before time. Moreover, availability of police force at the time of SEPA’s action is subject to absence of any emergency situation in the jurisdiction of the police.
The participants of the meeting were informed that for effective actions on public complaints regarding operations of illegal bricks and battery kilns and oil manufacturing from animal bones a sizeable number of policemen is required. Therefore, SEPA’s team assigned with such tasks has to wait till the availability of required number of policemen for this purpose. Meanwhile action on such complaints remains in pending.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Secretary Environment said that Advisor to CM Sindh on Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Barrister Murtuza Wahab has strictly directed to avoid delaying the disposal of public complaints and all resources should be utilized to take prompt action on them.
The Secretary directed the officials of Public Complaints Cell of SEPA to further expedite the process of disposal of environmental complaints lodged by the people of the province because their non-disposal is not only adverse for environment but equally harmful for human health as well.
Those who attend the meeting were Deputy Secretary, Environment Department Tipu Sultan; Director SEPA Karachi Region Dr Ashique Langah; Deputy Directors Waris Gabol, Azhar Khan, Abdullah Magsi; Coordinator Complaints Cell of the Department Agha Gul Muhammad; Assistant Directors Mubarik Ali, Muhammad Shoaib and Abdul Malik.
