Islamabad: Industrial units ‘to be shifted to Sector I-17’

[Naveed Yaseen]

Noor Aftab
The highly critical issue of shifting of industrial units from their current location in Sector I-9 to the outskirts of the capital is likely to be tackled amicably as the stakeholders have made a major headway during their interactive sessions in the last few days, sources told ‘The News’ here on Thursday.

Sources said that the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Ministry of Environment and owners of industrial units have been engaged in finding out ways and means to shift these units from Sector I-9, now completely surrounded by residential units, to Sector I-17 as suggested in the revised master plan that is yet to be approved by the federal government.

Sources in the CDA said that when environmental issues raised their heads due to polluting industrial units in Sector I-9, notices were served on owners to install anti-pollution devices in their units. “But now it is generally believed that the installation of anti-pollution devices cannot serve the purpose as the whole industrial area has been surrounded by residential units. So it has been decided to shift all these industrial units to Sector I-17 of the federal capital,” sources added.

A senior CDA official told ‘The News’ that despite issuance of notices the majority of industrial units, especially steel furnaces, lack basic anti-pollution devices and environmental degradation in the area is fast becoming a major concern for the civic body. He said: “We have clearly indicated to the environment ministry that if all these units are shifted to any other place even then installation of anti-pollution devices would be a must for all industrial units.”

The CDA has already acquired land for the establishment of an industrial estate in Sector I-17 where a proper facility to dispose of industrial waste would be provided to all units, he said.

The official admitted that the industrial units in Sector I-9 are posing serious health hazards to the residents of nearby sectors, including I-8, I-9 and 1-10. Around 500 factories in sectors I-9 and I-10 are causing water and air pollution in the area. Out of them, 204 are manufacturing units, including eight steel melting furnaces, 11 re-rolling mills, 25 flour mills, five oil and ghee mills, 31 marble cutting and polishing units and 23 metalwork and engineering units, GI pipes, soap, chemical, plastic, marble, spices and printing, which either lack or have inadequate facilities for the treatment of waste emissions.

The residents of the area time and again complained to the higher authorities about chronic diseases due to air and water pollution like asthma, respiratory infections, allergies and heart ailments.

Under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, a fine of up to Rs1 million can be imposed on the violator of the law and in case of continued violation, an additional fine of Rs100,000 could be enforced for every single day the contraventions continue.

CDA Member (Environment) Mazhar Hussain told ‘The News’ that shifting of industrial units is not an easier task but “we are determined to do it because pollution caused by industrial units in sectors I-9 and I-10 has become a matter of grave concern for the general public.” “We are fully ready to make arrangements for provision of basic facilities in Sector I-17 and whenever industrial units are shifted every owner would be bound to install anti-pollution devices in their respective industrial units,” he said.

He said they have been making all out efforts to ensure that the industrial units are shifted in the shortest possible time but this task would certainly take some time to get completed.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=188526