ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has rejected another environment impact assessment (EIA) report on the expansion of the Islamabad Expressway from Zero Point to Faizabad.

The environment watchdog alleged that the project launched in June 2015 violated Section 12 of the Environmental Protection Act 1997.

According to the section, the construction of small or large scale development schemes cannot commence unless the developers submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report to Pak-EPA. The EIA examines the environmental risks and benefits associated with a development project. The report is essential for the approval of a project by environment regulators.

On September 10, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) submitted an EIA report giving a detailed picture of the possible degradation of environment from the expansion of expressway.

This was the second report submitted by the project developers after Pak-EPA rejected the first one terming it unprofessional and deficient in information. The first report was also submitted after the widening of the road had started in violation of the law.

In its reply, Pak-EPA stated, “In view of the fact that a violation of Section 12 of the Pakistan Environment Protection Act 1997 has already been committed, this agency cannot accept the EIA report to review and consider to grant an environment approval.”

Work on the project began a week after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced to add three extra lanes on each side of the expressway starting from Zero Point to Rawat. The three-kilometre Zero Point to Faizabad portion is expected to be completed on November 30.

“The CDA, which is executing the 10-lane project, has failed to comply with the environmental laws. This has become a routine. State and private developers are often reluctant to conduct an EIA despite reminders from the environment regulators,” said a senior official in the Ministry of Climate Change.

He said the CDA had violated environmental laws numerous times whether it was the construction of the Zero Point Interchange, turning Rawal Lake into a recreational facility or extending the Margalla Road.

The official argued that hundreds of trees had been cut in the name of development without considering the consequences to the capital’s green environment. Dust in the air above Islamabad has increased several times in the past few years.

However, CDA Member Environment Mustafain Kazmi said the civic body was always compliant with environmental laws.

“Like before, an EIA for the expansion of the expressway was submitted before the work started,” Mr Kazmi told Dawn.

The ministry official, however, said the CDA had failed to conduct an assessment of the possible deterioration to the environment despite reminders from Pak-EPA. The environment regulatory body had put up the case with the ministry asking for permission to issue the CDA an environment protection order (EPO) to stop the widening of the expressway immediately.

“The EPO can only be issued by the director general Pak-EPA but the seat has been vacant for four months. However, in the absence of the DG, the ministry can permit Pak-EPA to slap CDA with an EPO but it is reluctant to do so,” said the official.

In the last two meetings of the Senate standing committee on climate change, the senators asked the secretary climate change ministry, Arif Ahmed Khan, to ensure that the project was stopped immediately until an assessment of the possible damages to the environment was carried out. The official promised to look into matter.

When the secretary was asked about actions taken, he responded, “Pak-EPA will take necessary actions.”

In its meeting three days ago, the Senate committee took up the deteriorating air quality the residents of Islamabad breathed.

Senators Sitara Ayaz and Samina Abid brought to the attention of the committee how Islamabad’s green character had deteriorated with the cutting of trees and the increasing concentration of dust in the atmosphere.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2015