KARACHI, Nov 3: A private firm which has constructed a multi-storey commercial building along the coastline in the Clifton area pledged before the Environmental Protection Tribunal (Sindh) on Tuesday that it would apply for an environmental clearance within two months.

The firm is alleged to have violated environmental laws while raising the structure.

The EPT was hearing a petition moved by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency against the alleged violation of Section 12 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997. The section states that no project owner shall commence construction or operation without filing an initial environmental examination or environmental-impact assessment report to the government environmental agency and obtaining a no-objection certificate.

The tribunal, headed by Ashraf Jahan, comprised technical and legal experts Samiuzzaman and Abdul Karim Memon.

The Sepa director-general had observed in the petition that the chief executive officer of the International Complex Project Limited, the owner of the Harbour Front Building, and other relevant persons had not acquired the statutory NOC for the project which, according to him, was situated in an “environmentally sensitive” area.

About two months back, the EPT was requested by Sepa to take cognizance of the violation of the relevant environmental law against the respondent under the provision of Section 17 of PEPA, 1997, which calls for punishment with compoundable cash fines.

At an earlier hearing, the representatives of and the advocate for the firm had said that PEPA, 1997 was not applicable to the project, as it had been launched and completed before the law was enacted.

On Tuesday, however, the firm instead of submitting evidence to confirm the time of the construction of the project, as was required by the tribunal in the previous hearing, submitted that the company’s CEO would submit an environmental impact-assessment report to Sepa within two months, and requested the tribunal to dismiss the Sepa complaint.

Jabir Ahmed, a respondent, and Arshad T. Ali, on behalf of another respondent, appeared before the tribunal on Tuesday.

Adjourning the hearing to Nov 10, the tribunal asked Sepa to furnish its comments on the latest statements of the two respondents.

Ice-factory case

Hearing another petition filed by Sarfraz Ali against the functioning of an ice factory in a residential area, where he also lived, the tribunal asked Sepa to furnish a final reply to the queries made by the tribunal at a previous hearing.

Sepa is required to furnish details about the disposal of wastewater being discharged by the factory; the name of the authority that had issued a licence to it and for how long.

The complainant had approached the EPT stating that the Pakistan Ice Factory was located near his property in Lyari Town and was producing ice on a large scale.

In a previous hearing, while seeking the closure of its operation or relocating to some industrial area, the complainant had explained the problems and risks created by the factory, including a leakage of ammonia gas, noise and environmental pollution.

The tribunal once again adjourned the hearing of the case till Nov 10.
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