TEXT & PHOTOS BY AIMAN INAM
KARACHI: Rising pollution in this port city has led the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) researchers analyze the scale of toxic waste affecting the entire city coastline.
Claiming that this would be the first sort of its study, senior investigator Hina Baig maintained that they will have a comprehensive snap of Karachi’s coast in terms of effluence affecting this Megapolis.
The study was instigated following a fresh analysis that demonstrated presence of innumerable disease-triggering microbes at copious spots of Karachi coast.
Commenting on this further, NIO Director General Dr Asif Inam stated that the Ministry of Ports and Shipping has been requested to assist the research as this would help the government prioritize areas for executing action plan.
Maintaining that seaside-cleaning strategies should be modified, he further reiterated that we must stop waste-dumping into the sea in its tracks.
Though it is mandatory for Unfortunately, the city is sans sewage treatment plant and therefore the entire effluent, particularly the harmful industrial waste, end up being released into the coast.
Referring to Clifton beach, Dr. Asif Inam elaborated that the situation is worse there due to unabated littering by hordes of Karachiites.
Not to mention that the waste coming from Lyari River, untreated effluent from close by residential areas and restaurants goes directly into the sea.
NIO’s 2016 Study Declared Coast Unsafe for Public!
Earlier, in 2016 a study was conducted by the experts of NIO and the Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education, Karachi, as a joint venture.
Their findings revealed the existence of pathogenic bacteria at nine spots along the coast such as McDonald’s, Sea view, Village, Sahil Avenue 2, Do Darya, Korangi creek, Gizri creek and Chinna creek.
The mentioned afore areas are considered unsafe for picnickers.
Untreated industrial and urban waste/sewage are the main culprits contaminating the Malir and Lyari rivers.
Pollution Takes Toll on Eco-System
Scientists delineated by saying that polluted water does not only take a toll on human health but as well as marine creatures, particularly turtles and crabs.
Karachi’s Sandspit Beach is one of the rare places in the world where over 3000 green turtles come to lay eggs.
However, plastic litter, disposable glasses and other stuff have affected their nesting cycle.
Moreover, edibles thrown by beach-goers also attract scavengers like dogs and birds that also eat-up the newly-hatched baby turtles.
It is pertinent to point out here that apart from concerned departments of government, citizens should also reckon keeping the city clean their responsibility as well.
Beach-goers must shun throwing packets and other stuff into the sea. Also, they should maintain proper hygiene by washing hands prior to eating as to stay away from water born infections.
