LARKANA:The purpose of World Environmental Day is the return and restoration of the natural atmosphere. This was stated by Mumtaz Ali Shah, Deputy Director, Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Office, Larkana, on Saturday, on World Environmental Day.
He said that hazardous environmental pollution coming out of factories can be controlled through the Environmental Act 2014. He said contaminated arsenic water should be treated before releasing so that it could be reused in a better way.
Trees should be planted on a massive scale everywhere in cities, towns and villages, hospital waste and municipal garbage should be disposed of in a scientific manner. He said vehicles emitting poisonous smoke must also be checked properly and regularly to save the atmosphere.
Shah said the Environmental Act 2014 should be implemented in letter and spirit for a better environment for which all government departments and the people will have to make efforts. Meanwhile, several other NGOs also observed World Environment Day and highlighted the importance of the day. They include Green Stars and Universal Scouts Open Group and others.
In the speeches, their leaders said that environmental pollution, climate change and increase in temperature have become the most important issues of the world. They said that planting saplings on a large scale everywhere is a must to save the future of our next generations.
They said trees and jungles should be protected at all costs as they are the only source of saving atmosphere and those involved in their cutting should be criminally charged without any discrimination. They said that the government should provide saplings to the people free of cost for plantation so that a better environment could be developed. They said trees provide oxygen which means life to mankind and inhale pollution which means saving the residents from being indisposed.
They said usage of plastic bags and pots have increased manifold but the government has done nothing to eliminate the menace to save the people from various deadly diseases which have become very common. They said river, sea and irrigation drains water has become highly polluted because of these plastic bags and gutters remain choked due to which contaminated water overflows and streets become filled which spread dangerous diseases among the citizens.
They urged the government to fully implement the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014 which is its legal and moral responsibility for provision of pollution free environment to the residents of Sindh.