Put a foot down: Commission unhappy over conversion of industrial plots

Summons former HCCI president, other industrialists on Nov 7


Our Correspondent November 06, 2018
Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS

HYDERABAD: The Supreme Court-mandated Judicial Commission on Water and Sanitation summoned former Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) president Seth Goharullah in connection with an industrial plot in Hyderabad SITE being used for commercial purposes.

At the hearing held in Karachi on Monday, the commission noted Goharullah's absence while summoning him on November 7.

Goharullah is the owner of the M/S Fateh Textile Mill on whose industrial plot number A/4 two hotels, Al Mumtaz Sajji and Rannikot, have been operating their commercial businesses. Land for both the hotels was given on rent to the private parties which set up the hotels. A car service station is also being built on the plot. The plot is located on main Autobahn Road.

The commission has already issued an arrest warrant for the mill's director. The commission expressed its displeasure over the absence of the textile mill owner. Justice (retd) Muslim remarked that if the owner doesn't appear in the next hearing, a non-bailable arrest warrant will be issued.

Rauf Ahmed, who appeared on behalf of the mill, submitted an undertaking that both the hotels will be closed. Ahmed also undertook that the plot will not be utilised to set up a cattle market as was done during Eidul Azha two months ago.

The commission's head, Justice (retd) Amir Hani Muslim ordered Hyderabad Commissioner Muhammad Abbass Baloch to conduct an inquiry over the plot on which the office and warehouse of TCS courier service is established in Hyderabad SITE. A sewage channel running along the plot has been blocked by the company. The commissioner will have to submit his findings in this regard within a week.

The owner of an industrial plot in Hyderabad SITE, number A/51, on which a burger and pizza outlets are operating, claimed that the plot was a commercial one in the master plan. However, the commission summoned the Sindh advocate-general or his delegate to assist the commission by sharing details of the plot at the hearing on November 13.

Dayaram Essarani, owner of M/P industries which converted an industrial plot into commercial, assured the commission that he will restore the plot for use as the warehouse as allotted by the SITE Limited. The commission granted three months to M/S Gul Paper Mills for installation of a smoke filter in its in house treatment plant and four months to M/S Ajmer Engineering and Electric Works in Kotri SITE for installation of the treatment plant.

Justice (retd) Muslim rejected justifications made by Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director Khalid Mehmood Shaikh with regard to unfair distribution of water in the city. He cited past connections given in favour to the consumers as one of the obstacles. "The water board MD shall take steps to ensure that the issues are resolved in conformity with the fair distribution of water within one week with [submission of] a compliance report."

Meanwhile, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency was asked to submit a list of industries operating across Sindh at the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2018.

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