SEPA directs builder to halt construction

Suspends construction of a building on Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue in Defence Housing Authority phase-VIII

KARACHI:

The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) to Messrs Creek Marina Builders and Developers, directing the company to suspend construction of a building on Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue in Defence Housing Authority phase-VIII, it emerged on Tuesday.

According to the EPO, the company has been served the notice over its failure to file the mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA), as required by the law.

Besides, SEPA director-general Naeem Ahmed Mughal has maintained in the EPO that the builder in question was offered an opportunity of a personal hearing on February 15, 2021, to submit a reply over the company's non-compliance with the SEPA Act, 2014.

But since required documents have not been submitted, the builder has been directed to stop the construction of the building until the company obtains environmental approval for the project, the DG has stated.

The DG has warned in the EPO that if the builder fails to comply with these directives, prosecution should be initiated in a relevant court of law against the builder.

Under Section 17 of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014, no proponent shall commence or construct a development project in Sindh unless its environmental approval is obtained from the SEPA following the submission of the EIA or initial environmental evaluation.

Moreover, Section 21 of the Act authorises the SEPA DG to stop the construction or installation of a development project that has been initiated without the prior approval of the SEPA.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2021.