Housing schemes and poultry farms told to halt work
September 10, 2010
Rawalpindi
To ensure supply of clean drinking water to the residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) has issued notices to 12 major housing schemes around Rawal Lake to immediately halt their operations while shifting of all poultry farms near the lake is also under consideration.
Sources said the Supreme Court of Pakistan had already taken a suo moto notice of the rising pollution levels in the lake and had directed all the departments concerned to immediately take measures to solve the issue. Next date of hearing of this court will be October 1, 2010, officials said adding EPD is actively trying to solve the issue before the next hearing.
Sources said a recent meeting over the issue was held on September 3, 2010 under the chair of Cabinet Secretary. The meeting was informed that CDA has finalized appointment of a consultant form to carryout a detailed survey of the catchment area of Rawal Lake and to propose a workable plan including the whole range of area based solutions for treatment and disposal of sewage leading to effective control of the inflow of pollutants to the natural streams. Consultants will submit their report on the lake within a period of three months, sources said.
Sources said that the meeting was further informed that as an immediate measure, EPD has issued notices under Environmental Protection Act (PEPA), 1997 to the management of all housing schemes and other institutions in their respective jurisdiction to setup sewer treatment plants immediately. Besides, owners of the Poultry farms who have set up their business in the catchment areas, affecting the lake were also served with notices and the government is also considering shifting of these poultry farms to some other area.
Sources said Environment Protection Orders (EPOs) were issued to 13 projects of housing schemes including M/s Hakas (pvt) Ltd (contractor Muree Express Way), M/s Quality Apartments Phase II, M/s Moin and Jan Associates (Jan Terraces), M/s Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab, Awan Market, GFulistan Market, Raja Hafeez Market, Alkhair Market, Ajmal Market, Raftar Abbasi market, Saeed Market, Abbasi Market and Judicial Town Muree for throwing untreated sewer water into the catchment area of the lake.
Sources said besides this the department has also issued advices and directions to several housing projects restraining them from commencing operations. These included Sky Commoners Garden (Angori Road), Commoners Development (Pvt) Ltd, Husnain Resorts-I (RKM Road), Royal Town Housing Scheme, Sun City Pakistan, Dream Valley Housing Scheme, PAEC Employees Cooperative Housing Society, OGDC Employees cooperative housing society and M/s Minawan Construction. Sources said development activities at majority of these housing societies were restrained after the EPD’s action.
EPD Deputy Director confirmed issuance of notices to the housing societies.
Talking about the Rawal Dam, a senior official of Punjab Irrigation Department said it was constructed in 1960 on Korang River emanating from Muree Hills to meet the water supply requirement of Rawalpindi and cantonment area. He said with the passage of time unplanned urbanization took place in its catchment area resulting in deterioration in the water quality of the lake.
He said situation further aggravated due to disposal of raw sewage from the CDA area and construction of hundreds of poultry farms in the catchment area. He said Municipal wastewater of Muree, ghora Gale, Salgran village and trait village is also going into korang river and ultimately in the Rawal Lake.
He said a monitoring committee was also formed under the chairmanship of Director General EPA, federal government, while its members are DG EPA, Punjab, Director EP, CDA, MD WASA, Administrator TMO Muree and Representative of Small Dams Organization. The committee will ensure implementation of notices issued by EPA and EPD to the housing colonies and poultry farms.
To ensure supply of clean drinking water to the residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) has issued notices to 12 major housing schemes around Rawal Lake to immediately halt their operations while shifting of all poultry farms near the lake is also under consideration.
Sources said the Supreme Court of Pakistan had already taken a suo moto notice of the rising pollution levels in the lake and had directed all the departments concerned to immediately take measures to solve the issue. Next date of hearing of this court will be October 1, 2010, officials said adding EPD is actively trying to solve the issue before the next hearing.
Sources said a recent meeting over the issue was held on September 3, 2010 under the chair of Cabinet Secretary. The meeting was informed that CDA has finalized appointment of a consultant form to carryout a detailed survey of the catchment area of Rawal Lake and to propose a workable plan including the whole range of area based solutions for treatment and disposal of sewage leading to effective control of the inflow of pollutants to the natural streams. Consultants will submit their report on the lake within a period of three months, sources said.
Sources said that the meeting was further informed that as an immediate measure, EPD has issued notices under Environmental Protection Act (PEPA), 1997 to the management of all housing schemes and other institutions in their respective jurisdiction to setup sewer treatment plants immediately. Besides, owners of the Poultry farms who have set up their business in the catchment areas, affecting the lake were also served with notices and the government is also considering shifting of these poultry farms to some other area.
Sources said Environment Protection Orders (EPOs) were issued to 13 projects of housing schemes including M/s Hakas (pvt) Ltd (contractor Muree Express Way), M/s Quality Apartments Phase II, M/s Moin and Jan Associates (Jan Terraces), M/s Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab, Awan Market, GFulistan Market, Raja Hafeez Market, Alkhair Market, Ajmal Market, Raftar Abbasi market, Saeed Market, Abbasi Market and Judicial Town Muree for throwing untreated sewer water into the catchment area of the lake.
Sources said besides this the department has also issued advices and directions to several housing projects restraining them from commencing operations. These included Sky Commoners Garden (Angori Road), Commoners Development (Pvt) Ltd, Husnain Resorts-I (RKM Road), Royal Town Housing Scheme, Sun City Pakistan, Dream Valley Housing Scheme, PAEC Employees Cooperative Housing Society, OGDC Employees cooperative housing society and M/s Minawan Construction. Sources said development activities at majority of these housing societies were restrained after the EPD’s action.
EPD Deputy Director confirmed issuance of notices to the housing societies.
Talking about the Rawal Dam, a senior official of Punjab Irrigation Department said it was constructed in 1960 on Korang River emanating from Muree Hills to meet the water supply requirement of Rawalpindi and cantonment area. He said with the passage of time unplanned urbanization took place in its catchment area resulting in deterioration in the water quality of the lake.
He said situation further aggravated due to disposal of raw sewage from the CDA area and construction of hundreds of poultry farms in the catchment area. He said Municipal wastewater of Muree, ghora Gale, Salgran village and trait village is also going into korang river and ultimately in the Rawal Lake.
He said a monitoring committee was also formed under the chairmanship of Director General EPA, federal government, while its members are DG EPA, Punjab, Director EP, CDA, MD WASA, Administrator TMO Muree and Representative of Small Dams Organization. The committee will ensure implementation of notices issued by EPA and EPD to the housing colonies and poultry farms.
