Environmental Protection Regulations 2008 announced

[LRE]

Environmental Protection Regulations 2008 announced: CDA to enforce environ laws soon

* Environment Directorate to be authorised to issue tickets for violation
* Fine amount to range from Rs 100-Rs 100,000

By Fazal Sher

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has notified Environmental Protection Regulations 2008 and will enforce them shortly to check growing environmental violations in the metropolis, CDA Environment Protection Cell (EPC) Deputy Director Sajjad Shah told Daily Times on Tuesday.

“The CDA Board has finally notified the environmental regulations and now the authority’s Environment Directorate will be authorised to issue a ticket to a violator on the spot,” said Shah. The Environment Directorate after issuing a ticket to a violator will refer it to CDA’s special senior magistrate for imposing fine on him, Shah said.

He said CDA would soon fix fines ranging from range from Rs 100 to Rs 100,000 for different violations. He said the CDA had derived Environmental Protection Regulations 2008 from the Environment Protection Act 1997. “The CDA has prepared the new regulations under the CDA ordinance 1960, as a number of violations were not addressed in the ordinance,” he said.

The CDA official said the Environment Directorate had earlier given a detailed presentation on the regulations to CDA Board and Pak-EPA.

He said under the new laws the CDA would have full powers to take action against vehicles creating noise or emitting smoke higher than the prescribed level. Factories discharging hazardous emissions, effluents, organic or inorganic wastes causing air, land or water pollution and playing of audio/video system higher than the prescribed level would also be proceeded against according to the law, he added.

Shah said CDA would take action against violators of building laws relating to environment. “Wall chalking, damaging green areas, landscape, trees, plants by grazing or keeping animals or by parking vehicles or dumping debris, discharge of any dangerous chemical in drains, watercourses or public land, supply of contaminated drinking water, irrigation of crops with sewer water, undertaking of a project without the authority’s permission, cleaning of vehicle or release of water on road, sale of unsafe drinks and eatables, establishment of brick kilns, limekilns or factories in the prohibited areas, stock, store or collection of timber, dry grass, straw or other inflammable hazardous materials or fuels without license from the authority, disposal of hazardous waste and use of banned pesticides and sprays in the capital limits would also be considered punishable,” he added.

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