LAHORE, May 20: The environment department has demanded over Rs500 million in the annual development plan for 2007-08 for its 19 new and ongoing projects, it is learnt.

Planning and Development officials say its chairman, Salman Ghani, has endorsed the ADP after which it has been referred to the chief minister for approval. The CM is also to make a bloc allocation for his Green Punjab Programme.

The provincial government is expected to allocate Rs200 million in the next budget to subsidise more bank loans for the purchase of four-stroke CNG-run rickshaws. Similarly, around Rs150 million are to be extended to introduce environment-friendly policies in the industrial sector.

A sum of Rs74.2 million has been sought for the four ongoing projects, including acquisition of land for phase-II of Kasur environmental improvement programme costing Rs50 million, and procurement of LCDs for transmission of data to suspended particulate matter (SPM) display boards to be installed at five points in the provincial metropolis at a cost of Rs5 million.

The 15 new schemes have been divided into brown environment, green environment and cross-sectoral projects.

In the brown environment, the major chunk of the total allocation of Rs253.5 million has gone to construction of building for Multan environmental laboratory and establishing the same in rented houses in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Murree and Rahim Yar Khan as well as procuring equipment for them. The project will cost Rs100 million.

A sum of Rs80 million has been allocated for procurement of autoclaves/incinerators to be installed in 10 major towns of the province for proper disposal of waste of health facilities.

To provide field-monitoring kits to inspectors and establish mobile squads in three major towns — Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala — an amount of Rs40 million has been apportioned.

An interesting project included in the brown environment is monitoring of water bodies across the province, identification of pollution sources and proposing measures and guidelines for their protection. As much as Rs15 million have been proposed to carry out the task.

Similarly, for monitoring and propagation of measures to preserve ambient air quality, a sum of Rs8 million has been suggested.

The single scheme under the green environment is preservation and improvement of existing botanical gardens and introducing new species of flora and fauna. An amount of Rs10 million is proposed to be spent on the project to be executed in collaboration with the Government College University, Lahore.

The six projects proposed as cross-sectoral include development of solar energy-based equipment and establishment of a model facility at Racecourse Park as promotion of alternative energy sources. A sum of Rs5 million has been sought for the scheme.

An allocation of Rs25 million has been suggested for educating the public about environment through preparation of literature, documentaries, songs, and convincing the masses to purchase durable goods.

In another related scheme, environment clubs will be formed at various schools and colleges in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Gujrat for motivating the youth to contribute towards environmental improvement.

A sum of Rs44 million has been demanded for the establishment of environment resource centre to provide the latest data about air quality and water pollution to the quarters concerned, provide training regarding chemical emergencies, environmental risk assessment and safe health and environment.

The department has this year taken an initiative of collaborating with educational institutions for development of indigenous technologies.

As much as Rs30 million will be allocated for collaborating with the Punjab University; the University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore; the Lahore University of Management Sciences; the Kinnaird College; and the National College of Business Administration & Economics for development of advance oxidation process for textile sector, finding solution to industrial heavy metals’ pollution, and recycling of domestic sewage.

These projects also include water conservation through rainwater harvesting, biogas support programme, and development of mycotechnological process for animal feed grade single cell protein from pulp and paper industrial effluent.