NOTES
OF MEETING WITH MR.NAEEM AHMED MUGHAL
DIRECTOR
GENERAL, SINDH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
ON
THE OCCASION OF HIS VISIT TO SITE ASSOCIATION
HELD
ON 21ST MARCH 2019 AT 3:00 P.M.
On the invitation of Mr.Saleem Parekh,
President SITE Association, Mr.Naeem Ahmed Mughal, Director General, Sindh
Environmental Protection Agency visited the
Association to discuss issues related to SEPA. Following were present in the
meeting.
FROM SEPA
i.
Mr.
Naeem Ahmed Mughal Director General,
SEPA
ii.
Dr.
Ashique Ali Langa Regional
Director, Karachi, (0300-2302540)
iii.
Mr. Muneer
A. Abbasi Deputy
Director, Malir (0331-3506770)
iv.
Mr. M.
Imran Sabir Deputy
Director, FBA/Korangi (0345-3019757)
FROM SITE ASSOCIATION
v.
Mr.
Saleem Parekh President
vi.
Mr. Zubair
Motiwala Patron
vii.
Mr. Ahsan
Arshad Ayub Senior Vice
President
viii.
Mr. Naveed
Wahid Vice
President
ix.
Mr. Jawed
Bilwani Former
President
x.
Mr. Muhammad
Altaf Executive
Committee Member
xi.
Mr.
Muhammad Shoaib Executive
Committee Member
xii.
Mr. Haris Shakoor Executive Committee
Member
xiii.
Mr. Arif
Lakhani Chairman,
APTPMA (Southern Zone)
xiv.
Mr. Abdul
Rasheed Former SVP
xv.
Mr. Saleem
Nagaria Former VP
and
representatives of Member industries of SITE
Meeting commenced with recitation from
the Holy Quran by Mr.Jawed Bilwani. President SITE Association Mr.Saleem Parekh
welcomed all the participants and drew the attention of DG SEPA towards Notices
being issued to Members asking them to appear for personal hearing and report
compliance as per Water Commission directives.
DG SEPA thanked Mr.Saleem Parekh for
inviting him to exchange views on environment related matters and said that this
is 1st coordination meeting which has been arranged with SITE
Association. SEPA will hold similar coordination meetings with other industrial
associations as well. He said that basic agenda of this meeting is the Water
Commission directives which gave 6 months time to industries of Sindh for
compliance. SEPA has been assigned the task to ensure implementation on Water
Commission directives.
Dr.Ashique of SEPA said that to comply
with Water Commission directives, we carried out
door-to-door survey of all industries in industrial zones of Karachi. At some
places, we faced resistance from some industries which did not allow access to
our officials. We have submitted Survey Reports / categorized data before the
Court. He informed that hearing notices were issued to 60 units asking them to
visit SEPA office and answer two simple questions e.g.
(i)
Progress
of setting up of in-house treatment plant (in case of wet processing)
(ii)
Progress
of setting up of septic tank (in case of dry processing).
Giving background of the matter,
Dr.Ashique said that in May-2018, 4 month’s time was given to industries by
the Water Commission for compliance with these requirements. After lapse of
this time, SEPA has been issued clear-cut directives by the Water Commission to
check compliance of each & every industrial unit in Karachi and report
compliance / non-compliance and as such SEPA officials are visiting factories
as it is committed to ensure compliance of Court orders. In this connection, a Public
Notice was also published in leading Newspapers on 5th October 2018. He then read
out relevant paras from the Water Commission order.
Mr.Saleem Parekh replied that the
Association is well aware of the Public Notice which was immediately circulated
to Members of the Association for further action at their end. At present, various
Members are at different stages of compliance while some of them have already
completed their in-house treatment plants.
DG SEPA at this added that in the
final Report submitted by the Water Commission to the Supreme Court of Pakistan,
it has been quoted that after the time is lapsed, SEPA will make surprise site
inspections and ensure to seal the factories which are non-compliant and
doesn’t have the treatment plant. “All the Water Commission orders have now
become part of the Rules.” He said that review petition option
was available to industries if they don’t agree with SEPA actions.
Mr.Zubair Motiwala while briefing the
participants on the Progress of SITE Industries on environmental compliance,
said that we undertake to install filtration plant since CETP is already under
process. Mr.Jawed Bilwani said that it is not possible to install treatment
plant in such a short timeframe. But filtration plant installation is possible.
Mr.Zubair Motiwala informed tender process of CETP has been completed and
SITE’s CETP is at No.1. In addition, HUBCO is also working on waste water treatment.
Dr.Ghulam Murtaza who is Professor of PCRWR, has evaluated waste water samples
collected from 14 points of SITE. Later, industries were categorized and 7
categories were formed. Top 3 categories are required to install treatment
plant first. Upon installation of in-house treatment plants by these
industries, the situation will improve. These include:
I.
Battery
manufacturing industries
II.
Chemical
producing industries / Pharmaceuticals
III.
Tanneries
& Leather finishing /
DG SEPA apprised the members that Water
Commission has identified above mentioned three sectors where in-house
treatment plants are to be set up on top priority basis. Mr.Jawed Bilwani at
this added that in this Report, Textile Sector appears at No.7 which shows that
textile sector is producing comparatively less hazardous effluent.
Mr.Zubair Motiwala and Mr.Jawed
Bilwani apprised the DG SEPA about different hearings attended by them at the
Court on behalf of the Association. They were of the view that closing down
of industries in the name of non-compliance will be fatal for the economy. As
such, there is need to chalk out joint strategy to ensure compliance of Court
Orders by industries for which, they assured every cooperation from SITE
Association of Industry.
The matter of construction of Five
Combined Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) in industrial zones of Karachi
also came under discussion. Mr.Saleem Parekh informed the participants that
PC-1 for the construction of 5 CETP has been prepared out of which, tenders for
3 CETP have been issued including one of SITE Area. We are indeed lucky to have
first CETP in our area which is being effectively followed up by SITE
Association’s Senior Members. Mr.Zubair Motiwala added that it is essential
that the assembly passes Bill for setting up of CETP. Mr.Saleem Parekh
informed that Bills is ready, to be tabled before the National Assembly.
SEPA representative informed that they
have surveyed all industrial units in SITE area and found that out of total
2480 factories surveyed, 1745-factories were engaged in dry process where only
septic tank is required. 654-units need to install treatment plants on priority
basis whereas 33 factories already have their in-house treatment plants.
Mr.Zubair Motiwala was of the view
that since the arrangement of ‘Nala’ is available, there should be no need for
septic tank which is old theory. SEPA representative stated that septic tank is
instrumental in settling contamination level of waste water. The matter of SEQS also came under discussion
to which, DG SEPA informed that they have filed urgent hearing application
to vacate the stay order, obtained by the Association.
Dr.Ashique informed that SEPA will
pursue 654-units named in the priority list, mostly comprising pharmaceuticals,
chemical, paints and battery sectors. SEPA has been given 6 months time to
ensure implementation. The case is expected to be fixed for hearing in the
month of June-2019. SEPA will take action as per court orders. Mr.Saleem Parekh said that upon receipt of
priority list of 654-units, we will immediately contact our Members where
installment plants can be installed without any hurdle.
DG SEPA informed that we cannot relax
the court orders as we have responsibility on our shoulders. The Association
may approach the Court against our actions. Final report was submitted in
January-2019 wherein SEPA has been given 6 months time. After 6 months, SEPA is
accountable before Water Commission. To sum up discussion, Mr.Zubair Motiwala proposed
to take action one by one as under.
(I)
SEPA will
share list of 654-units with SITE Association to pursue Members out of them
(II)
SITE
Association we will share information they have
(III)
SITE
Association will arrange a meeting of DG SEPA with the Consultant
(IV)
SEPA
should help in setting up of CETP from its platform
(V)
SEPA
should refrain from taking stern action against industries
DG SEPA further said that we will
invite Project Director of CETP for presentation on the progress of CETP. Regarding
E&P Report, he said that this document is not required while EIA is done
for new projects. SEPA will approve and give NOC on priority for installation
of treatment plants. After NOC, 4-6 months time is given to industries to
complete the treatment plant. E&P Report however, doesn’t mean that
industry is compliant with environmental laws. Space limitations for
setting up of in-house treatment plants also came under discussion.
Dr.Ashique further said that personal
hearing statistics are very disappointing. Out of 60 units called, only 12-13 units
representatives appeared for hearing. DG SEPA emphasized to complete personal
hearing by next week. Mr.Saleem Parekh requested to share this list with SITE
Association as well.
DG SEPA said that we represent entire
Sindh province. We have complete data of all industries of SITE. We again
encourage SITE Association to approach court of law for remedy against our
actions. He informed that SEPA is contacting public sector organizations
like KWSB, SSWMB and DMCs to redress
environmental issues. At this Mr.Jawed Bilwani added that SITE Limited and DMC
West should also be contacted for not lifting garbage & solid waste from
SITE Area to which, DG SEPA agreed.
In conclusion, DG SEPA asked Members
to give feedback about conduct of SEPA officers and discontinue underhand
payments (if any), to any official of SEPA and send complaint at mobile number
of DG and added that to ensure transparency, we send Inspectors of Karachi to
interior Sindh and vice-versa. Members
highly appreciated the clear cut directives of DG SEPA to promote corruption-free
environment in his department.
Mr.Arif Lakhani suggested to arrange an
Awareness Seminar for Members of the Association which was noted by DG SEPA. Meeting
concluded with vote of thanks to the participants.
mmm
21-Mar-2019
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