FUUAST fined Rs1 million for flouting environmental laws
The Environmental Protection Tribunal (EPT) imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science, and Technology (FUUAST) for flouting Section 12 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 (PEPA 1997) during the construction of the varsity despite repeated notices and show cause issued by Pak-EPA to seek environmental approval from the agency.
The decision of the tribunal noted that the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) filed a complaint with the Tribunal against the university and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) stating the former as the project proponent and the latter as responsible for the development and management of all the affairs as per its laws and regulations in the federal capital territory.
The complainant (Pak-EPA) maintained that the project proponent had to ensure measures for the development of the project as per the CDA Laws, Rules and Regulations and provision of the PEPA 1997. However, the project proponent (FUUAST) had not obtained environmental approval for their aforesaid project under Section 12 of the PEPA 1997 and IEE/EIA regulations 2000.
The EPA team held site inspections of the university on December 16, 2020, followed by a hearing notice held on February 15, 2021, which was not attended by the University and CDA officials.
Consequently, the agency served another notice on March 29, 2021, for a personal hearing attended by the CDA officials and not the FUUAST representatives.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2023.