Tanneries accused of using drains to dispose waste
20 August 2012The leather industry in Korangi is being accused of using rain drains for disposal of chemical waste over the past 50 years which has caused serious injuries to marine life, mangrove plantations and the overall ecological condition of the coastal belt around Karachi.
In this respect the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is to conduct a comprehensive survey into the disposal of chemical waste discharged from industries in the Korangi tannery industrial area.
In a meeting with a delegation from the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) south zone led by its Chairman, Khurshid Ahmed, Commissioner KMC, Matanat Ali Khan said municipal problems from the leather processing units were under consideration and a comprehensive survey would help to resolve the requirements of tannery zone.
‘Thousands of tons of industrial waste from Korangi tanneries and its disposal need proper solid waste management in this area’, Khurshid said.
Landfill is required for disposal of chemical solid waste besides it was necessary to make arrangements for the maintenance of roads, infrastructure, streetlights and water drainage system. He said District Municipal Corporations and KMC should jointly work for the resolution of municipal problems in the area.
He said that the rainwater drainage system was being used for sewerage, which was damaging the rainwater course and there was need for a separate sewerage system for this purpose. The PTA delegation also included Gulzar Firoz, Vice Chairman Fawad Jawed and former Chairman of PTA (SZ) Danish Khan.
Source: Pakistan Observer
