SEPA, SECMC reject Thar Coal poisoning water report.

Karachi -- The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) have rejected a report issued by Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW), claiming that Thar coal power project poisoned the drinking water being consumed by the people of the locality.

The ELAW in its report issued earlier had maintained that all all of the drinking water samples collected from Thar were unfit for human consumption as elevated levels of toxic metals (selenium, arsenic, mercury, chromium, and lead) was found from the same. The SEPA has dismissed concerns that Thar coal projects were adversely impacting water quality of surrounding wells and maintained that it regularly monitored coal mining operations.

The SEPA was of the view that it regularly reviewed the reports submitted by the SECMC and no adverse impact on the water quality of surrounding wells had been observed by it.

On the other hand, the SECMC termed the report 'baseless' and maintained that it followed all regulations prescribed by SEPA, while also voluntarily adopting global environmental standards, including those set by World Bank's International Finance Corporation. 'Mine dewatering is standard practice. In this case, unprocessed natural groundwater extracted from the third aquifer leaves the site boundary, is transported, and then released directly into the Gorano reservoir, hence there is no possibility of...