|
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT
LIST OF STARRED ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR
TUESDAY, THE 8TH JUNE, 2021
630. *Mr. Khurrum Sher Zaman: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that the illegal factories in Gadap Karachi pose serious health threats to the residents;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, steps taken to solve the issue?
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
Yes, there are different types of illegal factories are operating in Gadap Town which includes manufacturing of pig iron by means of open burning of mixture of coal + Mill Scale + Husk and burning of batteries by extracting lead and kilns which used old shoes as a fuel respectively. In this regard Sindh Environmental Protection Agency has taken stern action and closed operational activities of such type of illegal business. However, an effective coordination would be essential between District Administration, Police and other concerned departments to control this menace in the area for the protection of residents due to health hazards exerted through such illegal activity which adversely damaging the environment.
1306. *Ms. Rana Ansar: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether there is any specific environmental education provided to youth and children in the province during 2017-18;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
The question in fact pertains to the Education & Literacy Department, Government of Sindh. It is pertinent to mention that Sindh EPA has requested the said department for the same during 2019 and put forward the recommendations of the Honorable Judicial Commission/Water Commission regarding “Introduction of Environmental Course, topics and literature etc, in the curriculum and syllabus of education institutes".
1484. *Syed Abdul Rasheed: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether any bureau has been established to take action against smoke emitting vehicles;
(b) If answer to (a) above be in affirmative; steps being taken by the same?
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
Yes, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency under ADP Scheme established Vehicular Emission Control Program during year 2007. Sindh EPA monitors vehicle emission on regular basis with the support of traffic police. Sindh EPA has also established/notified Sindh Environmental Quality Standards 2015 for vehicular emission and noise. During 2018 & 2019 the total number of vehicles monitored/checked 2518 and challaned 898. Sindh EPA needs strengthening capacity enhancement and financial resources to spread-out this activity throughout the province.
1854. *Dr. Seema Zia: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
Details of approved Sindh Environmental Quality Standards under Section 4 (1) (c) of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014 as of August 27, 2018
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
It is submitted that Sindh Environmental Quality Standards, 2015 were approved by Sindh Government on 28th January, 2016 for Industrial Wastewater, Effluent, Domestic, Sewerage, Industrial Air Emission and Ambient Air, Noise pollution of vehicles, Air Emission of Vehicles and Drinking Water.
Sindh Environmental Protection Council has approved and notified SEQS vide notification No. SO (ECC&CDD) II-768/17 dated 28.12.2017. The constitution and decision of Council have been challenged in the Honorable High Court of Sindh vide CP No. 378/2018. The Honorable High Court granted stay in this regard.
1855. *Dr. Seema Zia: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that the environmental impact assessments are to be carried out before commencing construction/operation under Section 17 (1) of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, number of same carried-out in industrial areas of Karachi during May 31, 2016 to May 30, 2018?
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
Yes.
It is informed that under the provision of Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014 the proponent of development/industrial project file Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Sindh EPA reviews such projects in accordance to Environmental Impact Assessment/Initial Environmental Examination Regulations 2014. During the period of 31st May, 2016 to 30th May, 2018 Forty three (43) Environmental Impact Assessment reports were received by Sindh EPA.
2902. *Ms. Adeeba Hassan: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that due to in-effective measures the menace of industrial pollution has been increased in Sindh to an alarming extent,;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, action taken against any industry during 2017 and 2018?
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
Sindh EPA is taking all out efforts to control industrial pollution in the province within very limited manpower and other resources. It is a fact that unplanned industrial growth, presence of large number of small-scale industries, use of old technologies to control mitigate industrial effluents are also amongst major reason to menace of industrial pollution. The major actions related to installation of wastewater treatment plant. Air pollution control measures, closure/stoppage of major industrial unit like cement, sugar industries etc and other illegal industrial operations have taken place.
It is stated that Sindh EPA prosecuted 152 Cases to Environmental Protection Tribunal also
· Sindh EPA has filed 382 Complaints in the Honorable Courts of Judicial Magistrates in Sindh Province through its Regional Offices. The breakup of complaints filed by each Regional office of SEPA is shown below:
* SEPA Regional Office Karachi 239 Complaints.
* SEPA Regional Office Hyderabad 78 Complaints
* SEPA Regional Office Sukkur 40 Complaints
* SEPA Regional Office Mirpur Khas 18 Complaints
* SEPA Regional Office Larkana 07 Complaints
* 19.5 Million Penalty Imposed on violator of Private & Public Sectors.
3448. *Mr. Rabistan Khan: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
Number of units functioning in SITE area Karachi along with units who have installed processor to control polluted garbage exhausting from them?
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
Sindh Environmental Protection Agency has recently conducted the survey of industrial area. The survey reveals that different types of trades of industries are operating in S.I.T.E areas. As per survey jointly conducted by Magistrate and Sindh EPA that a total 2397 units are functioning in S.I.T.E Area and 564 units required the treatment facility. Whereas, more than 30 units installed treatment plant and SEPA is taking strict action against violator in respect of compliance of law.
4060. *Mr. Kanwar Naveed Jamil: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that action has been taken against 52 factories becoming cause of pollution in Karachi ;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
Yes
Sindh Environmental Protection Agency has mandate for enforcement of Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) Act 2014 and Rules & Regulations made there under Industrial monitoring has been initiated to check individual industrial units located in various industrial areas in Sindh for compliance of Environmental laws, In perception to restrain disposal of untreated waste water and Air Emissions into the water streams and Ambient air to prevent contamination of Air, Water bodies and the Sea. Individual industries units are therefore monitored to ensure in house arrangement for treatment of waste water.
Legal action has been initiated against the violators, including prosecution under the provision of Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014. In exercising the functions prescribed under the act and rules and regulations, during the year 2017-18, 152 complaints have been filed before the Environmental Protection Tribunal (EPT) as well as more than 400 complaints have been filed in the various courts of judicial magistrate throughout the Sindh province against violators /contraveners of environmental laws. (SEPA) also imposed penalties, Moreover to check Air pollution legal action has been initiated against Cement plants, Illegal battery recycling plants, Stone crushing units, Rice mills and Cotton ginning factories. Whereas 80 EPO and 150 notices for personal hearing was issued to various industrial units during fiscal year 2018-19. More than 200 illegal units were also closed related to hazardous waste activity during 2019-20.
5120. *Mr. Shahzad Quresahi: Will the Minister for Environment be pleased to state:-
Warning letters/ challans issued to industries that are creating pollutions through their disposals along with industries sealed by this agency that is creating environmental hazards?
ANSWER
MR. MUHAMMAD YOUSUF BALOCH, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT:
Under the provision of Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency is a regulatory body for the enforcement of SEP Act, 2014 and its Rules & Regulation made their under. Sindh EPA is continuously taking action against the violators of the SEP Act, 2014. Recently, under the provision of Section 22, of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014 penalty was imposed on 35 different types of organization i.e. Builders, Hospitals and Industries in Sindh and an amount of Rs. 12.5 Million was imposed. More than 200 industries illegal setup has been demolished with the help of local administration and police. These illegal industries are involved in lead smelting, battery recycling, kilns etc. Similarly under the provision of Section 21 (2) Environmental Protection Order was also issued to these units for immediate stoppage of operation till the submission of the penalty amount in the Head of Account of Sindh Sustainable Development Fund. These 07 units paid said amount and also submitted undertaking on stamp paper for the installation of Waste Water Treatment Plant within their respective jurisdiction to the competent authority Director General, Sindh EPA.
KARACHI: G.M.UMAR FAROOQ
DATED, THE 07th JUNE, 2021 SECRETARY
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
|
