Many -million rupees’ mega projects in Rawalpindi are ongoing or have been completed without procuring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Environment Protection Department.
Under the Environmental Protection Act’s Section 12, an NOC from the department is mandatory for all projects. Its violation has thus complicated estimations of environmental pollution created by the projects.
According to sources, Environment Department officials conducted a survey of the slaughterhouse constructed on Ratta Road and found that no steps had been taken to curb pollution in the surrounding areas and Nullah Lai.
Similarly, an application was forwarded to the department for an NOC for the Chandni Chowk Flyover project but no heed was paid to the issue. Likewise, NOCs for various projects the Sixth Road Flyover, Chohr Chowk Expansion, Pirwadhai Road Flyover and Underpass and Mareer Chowk were also not acquired.
Environment District Officer Shoukat Hayat said that letters regarding the environmental law’s violation have been sent to the Environment director general, adding that a fine of Rs 5 million per project could be imposed under Section 17 of the Environment Act.
Punjab Highways Department Zain Jamshed Khan said that all formalities for attaining an NOC from the Environment Protection Department for the Sixth Road Flyover, Chohr Chowk and Pirwadhai projects have been completed and sent to the concerned department.