KARACHI: The judicial commission has put the medical superintendents of as may as 27 public hospitals on notice to turn up to submit their respective reports on disposal of hospital waste. Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro, who headed the commission of inquiry into the state’s failure to provide safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, directed the superintendents to inform that how do they they dispose of hospital waste. They have been asked to turn up Feb 04. The commission as a last chance has given two days time to the commerce and industries department’s secretary to submit a comprehensive report on handling and disposal of industrial toxic effluent. It granted more time with a caution that no further time would allowed as the commission was time-bound and couldn’t grant indefinite time for submission of requisite report. The secretary is required to submit the report by Feb 03. The representative of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) informed the commission that waste treatment plants were set up in 76 industrial units in the city and 32 in the rest of the province and that also with strenuous efforts made by it. However, it needed assistance of civic authorities and police to take action against those industries who are without the plants. Karachi Water and Sewerage Board’s official informed it that the utility was constantly taking action against water theft but water is still being pilfered in West and Malir districts.