RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on Tuesday claimed to have resolved a total 217 complaints related to environmental violations which were received from people of the different areas of the province.

Before their disposal, all the complaints where first technically and legally examined to take most appropriate action as per the provisions of Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014 to control all types of pollution for the purpose of ensuring sustainable development in the province.

Another 76 complaints of similar nature are being disposed of presently while their environmental and legal aspects are being examined so that they may also be disposed of effectively in accordance with the environmental regulations of the province.

Out of total 217 complaints disposed of so far, 112 were from Karachi region, 24 each from Hyderabad and Sukkur, 14 from Mirpurkhas and 12 from Larkana while 31 were from the jurisdiction of Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department, Government of Sindh. In a meeting of Public Complaints Cell of the Department held under the chairmanship of the Secretary Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department Government of Sindh Khan Muhammad Mahar, he was informed that all the complaints received so far mostly pertained to all the three major types of pollution i.e air, land and water.

The Secretary directed the officials of Public Complaints Cell of SEPA to further expedite the process of disposal of environmental complaints lodged by the people of the province because their non-disposal is not only adverse for environment but equally harmful for human health as well.