SEPA stops construction of six buildings

KARACHI:

The Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has taken decisive action to halt the construction of six residential and commercial plazas in various areas of the second largest metropolitan city of Sindh. These projects were found to be contributing to environmental pollution and were being pursued without prior approval from SEPA. This marks the first instance of such action being taken against builders in Hyderabad under SEPA’s authority.

Following a directive from Naeem Ahmed Mughal, the director general of SEPA, a monitoring team in Hyderabad, led by Regional Incharge Imran Ali Abbasi and assisted by environmental inspectors, conducted an operation in Autobahn Road, Latifabad, and Hussainabad. They invoked Section 17 of the Sindh Environment Protection Act of 2014 to halt construction on these six projects. The presence of the police ensured the operation proceeded smoothly and deterred any potential resistance.

Regional In-charge Imran Ali Abbasi emphasised the strict measures being taken against environmental violators. The builders in question had been called for multiple personal hearings and were served with notices and warnings due to their ongoing violations of the Sindh Environmental Act of 2014.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2023.