KARACHI The lack of funding as well as controversy between the Governments two organisations over right to execute the scheme is causing no headway in initiation of multibillion rupees worth four combined effluent plants project to treat industrial waste Karachi, sources told The Nation on Monday. Currently, the entire industrial effluent as well as domestic waste was being discharged into the sea without treatment, which was causing marine pollution and endangering marine biodiversity. To cope up with the problem, the Government of Sindh prepared a project - Combined Effluent Treatment Plant - involving cost of Rs 7.366 billion, which aims at treating the industrial waste and its disposal into sea. The project was supposed to be equally funded by Federal and Sindh Government. Despite the requests forwarded by the Provincial Government, the Central Government had not incorporated the establishment of combined effluent treatment plant project in federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of current financial year 2010-11. The Supreme Court had, during the proceedings of a human rights petition, also taken a serious view of pollution in Karachi and directed the Sindh Government to control industrial pollution. However, in the light of the directives of the Supreme Court, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and SITE Limited got into action and started issuing notices to industries for strict compliance with the instructions of the court, but issuing notices to industries is not long term solution of the problem. Sindh Government had also informed the apex court of the country about the proposed project of four combined effluent treatment plant, which still on only papers and will yet to be transformed into reality after arrangement of adequate funds, officials said. A senior official confirmed that President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari recently also directed the federal ministry concerned to incorporate the above project in federal PSDP, instructing for sharing of funds equally by Federal and Sindh Government. However, central government has not obeyed the Presidents directives in this regard, leading delay in implementation on project, official sources pointed out. Officials said that among the four effluent treatment plants, two will be in SITE area, the third one in Korangi/Landhi and the fourth in Federal B Area/North Karachi. The entire cost of the four plants will be around Rs7.366 billion, while Rs500 million have already been allocated in current Sindh Government in its provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP) reflect in the portfolio of Industrial department in current fiscal year. However, controversy among the governments two organizations- Sindh Industries Department and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) on right to execute the project was another reason for delay in implementation of multi billion rupees worth scheme. In the regard, Abdul Rasheed Solangi, Managing Director Sindh Industrial Estate Ltd (SITE), which runs under the control of Provincial Industries Department, told The Nation that this project reflect in the portfolio of Industries Department in ADP of current FY2010-11, so provincial department has right to execute it. He, however, confirmed that issue of execution of project has not been solved yet between provincial department and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board. He clarified that who will execute four combined effluent treatment plants was a secondary issue, which could be solved any time, but lack of funding was a real hindrance in implementation of this mega project. On the other side, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board was stick on their position to get right of execution of this mega project, arguing that mostly treatment plants will posses vast area of water boards land, so project must be executed through this organization. KWSB senior officials further argued that the functioning of any treatment plant would base on the sewerage catchment areas and pipe network, which is the privilege of KWSB as no other party posses the pipe network.