ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: The Housing and Physical Planning department has prepared a comprehensive report and suggested different measures to the district administrations for ensuring a pollution-free environment in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The report suggested that an efficient, reliable and economical public transport network could make a major contribution towards reducing the use of personal cars. It said stringent regulation on issuance of driving licences by the city authority in Singapore and European countries had effectively achieved the objective of lowering car ownership.
The report proposed the establishment of vehicle emission testing stations for proper engine tune up and calibration at convenient locations throughout the city.
It stressed the need for carrying out ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ for future industrial and transport development projects and enforcement of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) laws for vehicular air emission. This will create demand for better tuning facilities in the city, it added.
In response to the above mentioned measures, private sector entrepreneurs will improve their skills for better tuning through new technologies and equipment. These entrepreneurs could be trained through polytechnic institutes and other technical training centres, it added.
In order to overcome air and industrial pollution, it suggested gradual shifting of all obnoxious industrial units to the under-construction industrial estate outside the city. Filters and scrubbers should be installed in the factories and acoustic treatment in the noisier areas of the factories be introduced.
Similarly, effective measures for monitoring air emission from factories to conform to the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) should be adopted, the report said.
For the treatment of municipal and industrial discharge, it urged the municipal authorities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to apply some treatment before disposing of waste into natural recipient water bodies. Strict ban on dumping of solid waste in water bodies should be imposed, it stressed.
The report said separate system for collection and disposal of municipal and industrial effluents be installed and treatment of industrial effluents before their discharge be ensured.
However, water conservation and treatment awareness may be created among the residents through media, it added.
To improve Solid Waste Management System, the report suggested that cleanest neighbourhood competitions should be introduced among the communities of the city to promote cleanliness.
Collection and disposal arrangements of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) are grossly deficient, which need to be improved immediately, it added.
The report emphasized the need for improving drinking water supply, urging that pollution of water-shed area of the rivers be immediately stopped. Rawal lake be protected from further pollution by taking stringent measures. Possibility of installing mini-water filters on public place be explored.
In order to eradicate noise pollution, the report suggested that pressure horns be banned in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It also said the existing airport be shifted to the proposed site as it would be a great relief for the inhabitants of the twin cities.
Noise created by audio shops in the residential areas may be strictly controlled. Similarly, the use of loud speakers in mosques for purposes other than Azan should be checked, it added.
According to the report, there were more than 50,000 milch animals in the twin cities which were a source of environmental hazards.
In addition, they also created problems while crossing city roads. It therefore proposed to establish ‘Gowala Colony’ at an appropriate location on the outskirts of the twin cities.
Tree plantation campaigns need to be launched to make the environment pollution free, it added.
In order to provide recreational and cultural facilities, the report suggested that more libraries and auditoriums need to be established in the two cities.