KARACHI: Environment projects suffer for lack of funds
By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, Feb 11: Delay in provision of funds by the federal government is likely to decrease the motivation of Sindh-based NGOs interested in undertaking environment related projects at the grassroots level, said people in conservation circles.
It was learnt that 10 projects selected and forwarded to the federal government about six months back by the Sindh environment department still awaited funds.
The projects had been short-listed by the Sindh Environment Department and the provincial environmental protection agency, which is supposed to monitor implementation of the projects.
An NGO representative said they were continuously contacting the protection agency to know the fate of its proposed environment scheme, but there was no plausible reply.
The inordinate delay gave to understand that the government was not ready to provide funds for bringing improvement in the overall environmental conditions in various districts of Sindh, he added.
He urged the government to release the expected funds at the earliest otherwise people working for the purpose at the grassroots level will loose heart and may stop environment-friendly approaches.
Of the 18 projects submitted by various NGOs, 10 were forwarded to Islamabad for funding under the federal government-run National Environment Action Plan (NEAP), said a source in the government.
Projects were received from NGOs after an advertisement was given by the federal ministry of environment about eight months back.
Applications had been invited from NGOs under the NEAP-Sub programme-6 (grassroots initiatives).
Before the projects in question, applications had been sent to the federal government some two years back as well, but the projects could not be materialized for some technical reasons on the federal government side, maintained the environment circles.
The NGOs in Sindh, according to the advertisement in question, are likely to collectively get an amount of Rs6 million for different projects in about nine districts, excluding Karachi.
The NEAP-SP 6 focuses on strengthening and enhancing abilities of local development institutions including both government and NGOs/CBOs to implement environmental management and poverty reduction initiatives, which are innovative in nature and are in such geographical areas, which cannot be covered by any other major project.
The government official said that SEPA had so far not received any feedback or advice from the federal environment ministry about the 10 projects, which included mass awareness, solid waste management, and wind energy projects.
Environmentalists are of the view that delay of such kinds or half-hearted handling of issues would ultimately contribute to withdrawal of initiatives aimed at promoting a culture of sustainable development.
“We are given to undermine the credibility of government bodies and not to apply and wait for the approval and funding of environment projects in the future,” said a very dejected environmentalist.
However, independent sources said that efforts should be made to develop government bodies at the district level, which can focus on environmental issues and support programmes to different NGOs locally.
In this connection, the officers meant for community development can be activated for implementation and monitoring of various environment projects.
