Pakistan-Norwegian joint project in Sialkot
Pakistan Times National News Desk

SIALKOT: A joint project of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Norwegian Agency for Cooperation and Development (NORAD) is being carried out here to control indiscriminate discharge of harmful solid waste from tanneries.

The project named Cleaner Production Center (CPC) has been underway under the management of Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

In addition to helping control discharge of polluted wastewater, the project is also aimed at improving working conditions in tanneries with the implementation of in-house cleaner production techniques.

Local NGOs say environmental degradation in Sialkot area has stemmed from the mushroom growth of tanneries in the region over the last decade. They however praised the efforts being made by the joint EPB-Norwegian project to deal with the problem.

At present there are over 248 tanneries functioning in the area, including nine large, 79 medium and 169 small units and according to the NGOs these do not have adequate system for waste disposal.

The leather industry is an important forex earner, but the NGOs say the egological problems resulting from their waste need to be tackled effectively, as sub-soil water is also adversely affected.

According to an estimate 90 million meter leather is annually manufactured while chemical consumption is 65,000 tons for leather processing in local tanneries, of which only 20 to 25 percent chemicals are absorbed while the rest is released in industrial effluent.

Of the 40,000 ton toxic chemicals used in tanneries, 9,600 tons are being used by the tanning sector of Sialkot alone, according to knowledgeable sources.

The effluents of these tanneries are being diverted to seasonal nullahs Aik and Bhed, which pass through the city and adjoining areas, while tanneries located outside the municipal limits are discharging waste into Palkhu nullah, contaminating the clean water of the nullahs that was used by villagers for washing, irrigation purposes and other needs.

The sub-soil water of Daska, Sambrial and Sialkot tehsils is slowly becoming unfit for human consumption and for irrigation purposes, and is leading to a gradual but steady drop in agricultural production, the sources said.

During the monsoon season the affluent of these tanneries flood vast tracts of agricultural land and damage standing crops. The flow of untreated wastewater into nullahs, sewerage lines and water courses affect the environment.

Milch cattle bathe in these nullahs and drink contaminated water, while milkmen also use the polluted water for adulteration purposes. According to medical sources the use of contaminated drinking water has led to increase in stomach and liver ailments.●