Punjab's environment budget slashed by 17%

Rs595 million of Rs1 billion allocated for 13 new schemes; Rs405 million for completion of four ongoing schemes

LAHORE: The Punjab government has slashed the budget allocation for environment by 17% as it has proposed an allocation of Rs1 billion for financial year 2019-20 as compared to an allocation of Rs1.2 billion for the corresponding period.

These funds are aimed at promoting sustainable development in the province through integration of environmental considerations.

The government has proposed this allocation to carry out 13 new schemes with an allocation of Rs595 million and continuing work on four ongoing schemes with an allocation of Rs405 million.

The key initiatives the government intends to take up in the upcoming financial year are to work for capacity building of Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab and for Enforcement of Environmental Standards in Punjab. These include combined effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and industrial estates (IEs) under the J&C Program.

Punjab targets new services to raise revenues

There will also be the establishment and functioning of a Strategic Planning and Implementation Unit (SP&IU) to carry out activities identified under the Punjab Green Development Programme, the establishment of Environmental Laboratories at DG Khan and Bahawalpur and enhanced environmental quality monitoring systems for Punjab’s air, surface and groundwater resources.

In addition, there will be the provision of missing environmental monitoring equipment/instruments in existing eight regional Labs of the EPA Punjab to effectively monitor the air and water quality. The Punjab Green Development Programme (PGDP) funded by the World Bank to strengthen environmental governance and promote green investments in Punjab at a cost of $273 million and is also expected to take off during the next financial year.

Budget documents show $200 million out of the total cost would be a loan by the World Bank. The government has proposed an allocation of Rs599 million. The Energy Department will implement a scheme under PGDP titled “Retrofitting of public institutions” with the allocation of Rs500 million in FY 2019-20, the total cost of scheme is Rs2.5 billion. The transport department is also implementing a scheme for the expansion of private vehicle inspection and certification systems (VICS) in Punjab under a PPP mode.

Environmental protection and conservation aims to reduce the adverse impact on environment with the increase in industrialisation and economic growth. There is a direct link of pollution on air, water and land, which in turn seriously affect economic growth. Therefore, it is imperative to reduce the impact of pollutants on environmental resources for the existence of life and sustainable development. Punjab government’s commitment towards environmental protection envisions a clean, protected and safe environment for the public that ensures environmental sustainability for future generations.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2019.