KARACHI: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) informed the Sindh High Court on Thursday that handling of pet coke without strict measures would be dangerous to the environment and human health and suggested that the Karachi Port Trust should dedicate a terminal with appropriate technology and storage facility.

The petition was filed to seek action against the import and handling operations of pet coke at the KPT in an alleged violation of the environmental laws.

The two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar adjourned the hearing till April 2 after the lawyer for the KPT sought time to file objections on Sepa’s report.

Sepa in its report contended that pet coke was found to have much higher overall emissions than other bulk materials and, therefore, greater air quality impacts from outdoor storage. “The main threat to urban populations in the vicinity of pet coke piles is due to fugitive dust emission in the form of fine particulate matter,” it said.

During the site inspection, the report said it was observed that the handling of pet coke was being carried out in an unscientific manner in disregard of provisions of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014.

Sepa suggests KPT dedicate a terminal with necessary facilities

Sepa in its report recommended that the KPT must take precautionary measures as per international best practices and ensure compliance of provision of the Sepa Act and rules made for handling hazardous cargos in general and pet coke in particular for the protection of environment and human health.

The KPT should also plan a dedicated terminal or jetty for pet coke import with appropriate technology and storage in adequately designed storage facility, it further suggested.

Representing a non-governmental organisation, petitioner Dr Syed Raza Ali has challenged pet coke’s handling at the port and its transportation in the city and contended that despite the Supreme Court’s order in the coal handling case, the import of pet coke was allowed without complying with the relevant environmental laws, causing serious health and environmental hazards.

DCs told to stop farming through sewage

The same bench directed the deputy commissioners of Malir and Korangi for proper vigilance and to stop farming activities

with sewage and also issued show-cause notices to the DCs Central and East for their absence.

It also put the additional secretary for agriculture on notice for March 31 and asked Sepa to depute an officer to provide assistance at the next hearing.

The representatives of the Malir and Korangi DCs turned up and submitted that they approached the agriculture department for action and suggested that the department had some chemical for spray on such land to make it infertile.

The bench also put the additional secretary of the agriculture department on notice after it was suggested that the agriculture department be made part of this petition.

It directed the DCs of Malir and Korangi to set up a task force in their territorial jurisdictions for proper vigilance and survey to stop agriculture through sewage and take all necessary action.

The bench also directed the lawyer for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to file a reply by next hearing.

A petition was filed in the SHC contending that vegetables were being grown with sewage and industrial waste in Korangi, Malir, Landhi, Surjani Town and other areas located on the outskirts of the city and these vegetables were unfit for human consumption.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2020