KARACHI - Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday ordered authorities to take action against the use of toxic water for farming vegetables on the Malir riverbed.
A SHC bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard a petition against vegetable farming with toxic water in Malir area.
The court expressed anger against the authorities concerned for failing to deliver progress reports on fulfillment of its previous orders. Justice Mazhar remarked that it means that no one is performing his/her responsibilities. He said the cultivation of vegetables through sewage water is a risk to everyone. The court directed the secretary agricultural department to submit a complete report on the matter. It also sought a report about the outcome of vegetable samples sent for testing.
The court also ordered the authorities to take instant action if anyone is found cultivating vegetables with polluted water and submit their reports by the next hearing slated for Feb 17.
Later, DC Korangi and others submitted the report before the court and the officers demanding the operation arrangements. Action has been taken against cultivation of vegetables with dirty water, Mukhtiarkar Korangi said.
The report said water flow is high after the monsoon and it takes three months to destroy waste vegetables. The report said authorities faced a shortage of missionary for further action.
The report demanded tractors, shovels, staff, and the help of local police. The action was taken on Malir River between June 6 and June 9, 2020, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Korangi said. He said the task force is overseeing the area.
SHC notices Sindh govt, federal ministry over non-completion of K-IV water project
Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued notices to Sindh government and Federal Ministry of Planning and Development on a petition against non-completion of K-IV water project project in Karachi.
A SHC bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar heard a petition filed by citizen Sayed Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi against the non-completion of the project and water shortage in Karachi.
The court issued notice to the Federal Ministry of Development and Planning and Sindh government and sought details and response from ht both for the K-IV project, which has been delayed due to the lack of funds, the petitioner said. Naqvi stated the people of Karachi were suffering the consequences of the dispute between Sindh and the federation.
The project is a municipal infrastructure being jointly developed by the provincial and federal governments in Karachi to augment the city’s daily water supply. The estimated cost is approximate Rs25.5 billion, while the project is designed to provide 650 million gallons of water daily to Karachi in three phases.
