'SEPA committed to environment protection, natural assets'

The Director Technical, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has said that SEPA will do every effort to protect the environment and natural resources of the ecosystem of Sindh and the department has started taking serious actions against the violators of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014.
He expressed these views while chairing a public hearing on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of new cement plant of Power Cement Limited at a local hotel at Hyderabad on Tuesday.
The public hearing was attended by stakeholders from various forums including academia, NGOs, representatives of various departments and general public. He said that SEPA will ensure to keep air emission parameters PM10, NOx, SOx and CO within the limits of Sindh Environmental Quality Standards (SEQS) in the project of new cement plant of Powers Cement Limited.
During the question and answer session, the participants raised various observations regarding the performance of industrial units in Jamshoro in general and Power Cement Limited in particular.
Former Secretary Environment Shamsul Haq Memon said that power cement must undertake extensive tree plantation in collaboration with Sindh Forest Department because the biodiversity is under serious stress in this part of Thano Bula Khan which is a sensitive ecosystem. He also emphasised on the need of a hospital for the local people of the area.
Dr G R Keerio, a senior environmentalist said that implementation of the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) management system is very important. Most of the industries ignore the importance of health and safety aspects which results in occupational issues.
Dr Salman Shah, Professor of Mehran University said that Power Cement Limited may collaborate with department of Chemical Engineering to undertake research and development project which may benefit the cement industry in long term. In response to his advice, Saquib Ejaz Hussain suggested that Power Cement Limited should collaborate with Mehran University to study the option of using fly ash of coal power plants in the cement manufacturing process. This will not only be beneficial for cement plant but will ensure compliance of coal power projects being constructed in Karachi and Thar.
Local representatives of the area observed that employment should be provided to local people of the area instead of hiring people from the outside. They appreciated the efforts of the company in extending support to the local villagers as part of corporate social responsibility.