400mn gallons of untreated sewage being dumped into Karachi sea

KARACHI: Close to 400 million gallons of untreated sewage water is being dumped in sea daily, as the 12-year-old S-III project is yet to be completed, reported The News on Monday.

Provincial Minister for Local Government Nasir Hussain Shah, when asked about the issue, claimed that the delay in the project was not only from the Sindh government’s side. He added that the project would be completed in 2020.

According to estimates, nearly 400 million gallons of untreated waste was being dumped into the sea which was posing a serious threat to the aqua life. It has been observed that various aquatic plants were also dying leading to a scarcity of food for the small species which ultimately threatened the life of big species.

Meanwhile, importers have warned Pakistan that its exports could be banned if it continues dumping untreated industrial waste into the sea.

Also read: Dumping untreated sewage has caused 40% drop in marine population: DG PMSA

Experts believe if the provincial government could not complete the S-III project soon then the fishing industry would be destroyed as the fish near Karachi could become uneatable.

The S-III project, whose cost has reached Rs36 billion, was launched 12 years ago to treat sewage and sanitation waste before dumping it into the sea.

Talking to the special transmission on marine pollution and its dangers, the provincial minister Nasir Shah claimed that the Sindh government was not liable for delaying the project because when the project was started, the PML-N was in the Centre.

The minister alleged that the feasibility report was sent to the federal government but it did not approve the report. He added that work on the Korangi treatment plant would also be started on a priority basis.

Also read: Karachi's most polluted river

Shah claimed he has written letters to the contractors of the project and directed them to complete the work as soon as possible. He said the plant should be completed much earlier, adding that the government would try to complete the project within 2020. He said if the project was not completed within the time, then strict action would be taken against the contractors.

Adviser to the CM Sindh on Environment Murtaza Wahab, told Geo News that everyone talked about issues but stakeholders were ignored. 

He said the sea line was controlled by the federal government and cantonment board, adding that earlier, the water commission was formed that had directed industries to build a treatment plant for industrial waste.

Originally published in The News