KARACHI:Community leaders residing in the vicinity of oil, gas, and coal fields across various districts in Sindh on Tuesday called upon the government to take effective measures for environmental protection around oil and gas exploration fields. They pointed out that residents in these areas have been grappling with health issues due to the absence of effective measures to mitigate the impact.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Karachi Press Club, the community leaders, including Zeenia Shaukat, Director, The Knowledge Forum; Abdul Majeed Mungrio, Sustainable Development Foundation, Sanghar; Leela Ram, Advocate, Gorano Dam, Islamkot Tharparkar; Ishak Soomro, social leader and researcher; Muhammad Aslam Malah, Social Workers Union, Badin highlighted the plight of the villagers living around the oil and gas fields.
Community leaders representing communities from Badin, Sanghar, Tharparkar, and other areas called upon the government and private companies to safeguard the surrounding environment and the health of people. They demanded that the government take measures to protect the rights of local residents and address the lasting damage inflicted on the environment due to the discharge of polluted water and gas.
In particular, the leaders pointed out that Badin district has been a longtime producer of gas and oil, yet the welfare of local communities has been continually denied. Basic amenities such as clean drinking water remain elusive, despite the responsibility of companies to provide essential services such as healthcare, road infrastructure, education, technical training, and employment opportunities.
The detrimental impact of oil and gas operations is acutely felt through the contamination of local water sources, resulting in a surge in waterborne diseases among the populace.
Under corporate social responsibility (CSR) obligations, companies are mandated to provide gas to villages within a five-kilometre radius of oil and gas extraction sites. Regrettably, many villages have yet to receive gas supply despite this requirement, they pointed out.
The leaders emphasized that despite the existence of a legal framework and policies governing exploration companies, local communities have not reaped the benefits of the funds allocated for their development.
Oil and gas exploration, drilling, and natural gas processing activities have detrimental effects on communities residing near these operations. Alongside air pollution, residents contend with a myriad of health issues, including cancer, skin conditions, respiratory ailments, and cardiovascular diseases.
A stark example of the environmental devastation is evident at the Gorano Dam in Tharparkar district, where the surrounding villages have borne the brunt of the damage. Water from coal mines in the dam has become severely polluted, extending its contamination to local wells. Documentation substantiates groundwater pollution near the dam, a matter that has been presented in the Sindh High Court.
The leaders stressed the need for government intervention to protect the rights of local communities. They called for measures to minimize pollution discharges, reduce harmful emissions, and mitigate climate impact by curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
They highlighted the stark contrast between the initial promise of economic transformation with the discovery of oil and gas and the grim reality that has unfolded over decades. Districts such as Tharparkar, Badin, and Sanghar, despite being oil and gas-rich, grapple with crumbling infrastructure, a surge in diseases, and a lack of healthcare facilities.
Local residents often find themselves excluded from employment opportunities in these companies. Moreover, Sindh has not received its due royalty amount from the federal government for years, despite producing over 55% of gas in Pakistan. While exploration companies pay substantial production bonuses to districts, these funds seldom benefit ordinary citizens.
Unfortunately, local communities find themselves voiceless, with funds controlled by powerful political elites. Although grassroots organizations frequently protest against corporate pollution, the government has been slow to address their concerns.
The leaders called on the Sindh government to rigorously enforce existing laws related to social welfare and environmental management in oil and gas production.
