HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (HCCI’s) Sub-Committee on SITE has expressed its grave concern over the lack of facilities in the area making it difficult to fulfil production demand of industries, particularly for export-oriented industries.
It was observed during the meeting of HCCI Sub-Committee on Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) which met late Saturday evening under the chair of its Chairman Mazharul Haq Chaudhry.
Mazharul Haq Chaudhry said that SITE was established in 1952 but the concerned authorities are supplying sub standard water in the area which has also failed to fulfil the requirements of the industries. Similarly, the filter plant has been established but the area people are unable to avail the facility of filter water because of non-functioning of the plant, he added.
He said that due to the negligence of the estate engineer of SITE, the encroachment in the area is increasing and due to non-de-silting of main drain line of the city, the area people are suffering great inconvenience due to increasing pollution.
Mazharul Haq Siddiqui went on to say that the industrialists had deposited Rs 4.5 billion with Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) for acquiring industrial plots in SITE Phase-II announced by the Sindh government at 300 acres land, but the concerned authority had still not made any allotment which is causing a sense of deprivation among the industrialists. The timely establishment of industries in SITE Phase-II would not only ensure the industrial growth in Hyderabad but also overcome the issue of unemployment, he said.
He demanded the appointment of a secretary level officer for SITE Hyderabad instead of an estate engineer and allotment of plots to industrialists in SITE Phase-II with an immediate effect. He also demanded the new sewerage system in the area in order to avert pollution.
Mazharul Haq Siddiqui also criticised the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency for sealing the industries and imposing fine upon the industrialists on the charge of violation of Environmental Protection Act, adding that the closure of industries could cause the issue of unemployment of thousands of workers.
He said that the industrialists alone could not establish water treatment plants; therefore, the Sindh government should establish the plant in order to overcome the issue of pollution. He also demanded the construction of roads in SITE Hyderabad as well as the maintenance of technical institutes of the area.
