Pak-EPA urged to set criteria for consultation firms
Experts say firms should have the requisite academic qualifications and experience
Experts say firms should have the requisite academic qualifications and experience. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has not set any specific criteria to register consultation firms to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) studies.
At the moment, most of the consultations firms do not meet the necessary qualifications or experience in environmental sciences to carry out an environmental study.
“The Pak-EPA should develop a new procedure for registering environmental consultants including individuals, organisations and subject specialists to improve the quality of EIA/IEE,” Tauqir Ali, an environmental expert in the capital, told The Express Tribune.
He suggested that a procedure and criteria for registering environment consultants should be designed such which ensures that these consultants have the relevant qualification and experience in the field of environmental sciences so that they can conduct an environmental study and hence improve the quality of EIA and IEE. In early 2015, a former Pak-EPA director general had tried to spell out the standards for registering consultant firms. But the plan was shelved soon after his transfer from the department.
Under the plan, the Pak-EPA would have to provide a list of the registered consultant firms to proponents (project-carriers) before issuing them no-objection certificates to continue with the development work. Moreover, individual members would be required to sport at least a master’s degree in the relevant field and six years of working experiences. Alternatively, they can have a doctorate (PhD) with three years of working experience in EIA. Or, they should be involved in EIA-related studies on a regular basis.
“All registered consultancy firms should have adequate knowledge of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, IEE/ EIA Regulations 2000, EIA guidelines and all other related national legal instruments,” Ali said, adding that the project proponents would also have a choice to carefully select an environmental consultant based on the competency and experience of the consultant.
“At the moment, a consultant firm, which has no required experience in environmental sciences, is preparing EIA and IEE reports for civil, electrical and mechanical projects,” the former EPA director told The Express Tribune.
“The environmental watchdog, instead of studying environmentally sensitive areas, largely chases after projects which are mostly located in the urban areas,” Architect Muhammad Nawaz told The Express Tribune. He censured Pak-EPA for not checking the socio-economic and environmental parameters with respect to the rampant growth of housing units in areas located near Rawal Lake such as Bani Gala and Bhara Kahu which are quite environmentally sensitive. Rather, he said, the body continues its pursuit of major urban projects.
He said this approach of the Pak-EPA had led to a deterioration in highly environmentally sensitive areas in the capital, and the situation is expected to further aggravate unless amends are made.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2017.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has not set any specific criteria to register consultation firms to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) studies.
At the moment, most of the consultations firms do not meet the necessary qualifications or experience in environmental sciences to carry out an environmental study.
“The Pak-EPA should develop a new procedure for registering environmental consultants including individuals, organisations and subject specialists to improve the quality of EIA/IEE,” Tauqir Ali, an environmental expert in the capital, told The Express Tribune.
He suggested that a procedure and criteria for registering environment consultants should be designed such which ensures that these consultants have the relevant qualification and experience in the field of environmental sciences so that they can conduct an environmental study and hence improve the quality of EIA and IEE. In early 2015, a former Pak-EPA director general had tried to spell out the standards for registering consultant firms. But the plan was shelved soon after his transfer from the department.
Under the plan, the Pak-EPA would have to provide a list of the registered consultant firms to proponents (project-carriers) before issuing them no-objection certificates to continue with the development work. Moreover, individual members would be required to sport at least a master’s degree in the relevant field and six years of working experiences. Alternatively, they can have a doctorate (PhD) with three years of working experience in EIA. Or, they should be involved in EIA-related studies on a regular basis.
“All registered consultancy firms should have adequate knowledge of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, IEE/ EIA Regulations 2000, EIA guidelines and all other related national legal instruments,” Ali said, adding that the project proponents would also have a choice to carefully select an environmental consultant based on the competency and experience of the consultant.
“At the moment, a consultant firm, which has no required experience in environmental sciences, is preparing EIA and IEE reports for civil, electrical and mechanical projects,” the former EPA director told The Express Tribune.
“The environmental watchdog, instead of studying environmentally sensitive areas, largely chases after projects which are mostly located in the urban areas,” Architect Muhammad Nawaz told The Express Tribune. He censured Pak-EPA for not checking the socio-economic and environmental parameters with respect to the rampant growth of housing units in areas located near Rawal Lake such as Bani Gala and Bhara Kahu which are quite environmentally sensitive. Rather, he said, the body continues its pursuit of major urban projects.
He said this approach of the Pak-EPA had led to a deterioration in highly environmentally sensitive areas in the capital, and the situation is expected to further aggravate unless amends are made.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2017.