Islamabad: Enforcement of CDA’s environmental laws shortly

[Naveed Yaseen]

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is in the process to finalise the modalities to implement its Environmental Protection Regulations 2008 to counter environmental degradation in the federal capital, empowering its environment wing to issue tickets to the polluters.

According to a senior CDA official, the Authority has formulated new environmental laws to check all types of pollution in the federal capital and the CDA’s Law wing is working on the methods of implementation.

“Environmental Protection Regulations have been finalised. We are working on the practical aspects of the regulations. No doubt, these regulations would effectively minimize the pollution level in the federal capital,” said the official.

He said under the new laws, the environment directorate of the CDA would be authorized to issue ticket to the violators, for which, previously, the CDA had to move to environment ministry.

He said due to procedural complications, it used to take months to take action against any violator, polluting the environment of the capital city that prompted CDA to formulate its own regulations.

He said the new laws authorize civic body to impose fine valuing Rs100 to 100,000, depending upon the severity of the violation.

“After issuing ticket to the violator, the CDA would refer it to the special senior magistrate that would decide the volume of fine to be imposed on the violator,” said the official.

He said by formulating new laws, the CDA would not undermine the role of the concerned ministry rather the civic body would also inform the ministry regarding the violation that may also proceed against it, adding that the new laws have also been formulated in consultation with the Pak-EPA.

The official said the regulations have been derived from Environment Protection

Act 1997 and has been prepared under CDA’s Ordinance 1960 as a number of violations were not covered in this ordinance.

He said under the new laws, the civic body would even be authorized to take action against the vehicle creating huge noise or emitting smoke more than the prescribed level.

“According to the new laws, we may also proceed against the factories discharging hazardous emissions, effluent, organic or inorganic wastes causing air, land or water pollution,” he added.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=209809