Karachi: Large sewerage dam for city in the offing to curtail sea pollution

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Amar Guriro

KARACHI: President Asif Zardari has directed the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) to build a large sewerage dam, where industrial waste would also be collected and filtered, after which the water obtained would be used for parks and trees in the city as part of the Green City plan, Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgari told Daily Times.

“In a meeting held at the Governor’s House, the president directed the CDGK to formulate a plan for such a dam so that sea life could be protected from harm,” he said.

Talking to this scribe at his office, Bhurgari said that the high-ups of the CDGK have promised to put this plan in their priority list.

When inquired about the cost of this proposed sewerage dam and which body will be responsible for its construction, he said that the Sindh government would not allocate the cost of the dam in its annual budget, and the CDGK would plan and construct it using its own resources. “The sewerage is produced in the city and therefore the city government has to plan and build this dam,” he went on to add.

When asked about the government’s plans to protect Manchhar Lake, the largest fresh water lake and wetland in Pakistan that has almost died after discharge of industrial effluent from the industries of Punjab and saline water and agricultural waste from the northern districts of Sindh into its waters, Bhurgari disclosed that the government is planning to build another large dam on the upstream of Manchhar Lake where water will be filtered before it is poured into the lake.

“The government is planning to build a large dam at Manchhar Lake, but I don’t know more details about it at the moment,” he said.

On the mysterious appearance of thousands of dead fish on the shores of Karachi at Naen Naar (New Channel) near Kakapir village located in the Sandspit area, the minister said that he and his ministry were not aware of this issue.

“Several fishermen and residents of these areas visit me daily, but no one has yet informed me about such an occurrence,” he said.

He said that he was aware about the damage to sea life by industrial effluent. “I recently held a meeting with provincial minister for industries and informed him that industrial wastes are harming fish and other sea creatures.

The minister for industries has promised me that he would soon formulate a plan to stop the disposal of industrial waste into the sea. He is currently abroad and as soon as he returns, the matter would be resolved,” he said.

When asked about the quantity of domestic sewerage and industrial effluent poured daily into the sea, he said that his ministry has no data available over this right now, but efforts are underway to acquire this information.

On the safe return of 24 fishermen of Goth Haji Yusif Katiyar, Kharo Chhan, district Thatta who were arrested by Indian Navy six months ago, he said that he has personally made phone calls to interior adviser to take steps in this regard.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...09_pg12_11