Islamabad: CDA fails to enforce environment protection laws

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to enforce Environmental Protection Regulations (EPRs), 2008, since its issuance last month. The EPRs were issued on July 30 to conserve environment and keep the city clean. People, especially those living in downscale areas, are however flouting them with impunity. The CDA’s Environment Directorate too seems least bothered about enforcing the regulations, as no action has been initiated against their violators so far. The regulations prohibit wall chalking; dumping of construction material alongside roads or in open places; damage to green areas, landscape, parking vehicles; throwing debris and dangerous chemical in drains, watercourses or public land; cleaning of vehicle or release of water on road, and sale of unsafe food and drinks etc. They also declare driving vehicles, which cause air and noise pollution, on the city roads, parking vehicles in green belts and polluting drains by discharging effluent cognisable offences. The Environment Directorate is authorised to fine the EPRs violators between Rs 100 and Rs 0.1 million. Daily Times found people openly defying the EPRs in the city during a survey of various sectors on Monday. Such violations were more common in downscale areas. People had parked vehicles in green belts and dumped debris/construction material by roads. The piles of construction material restricted smooth movement of road users, especially in the morning and in the evening. In most of the areas, water was seen flowing out of houses onto the roads because of floor or car washing. That slowed down traffic on roads besides creating problems for pedestrians. Public transport drivers also violated ban on playing audiocassettes in vehicles without impunity. fazal sher

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