Environmental protection: See no evil, stop no evil

Hazardous asphalt plant set up near a military organisation raises questions about the role of PAK-EPA.

ISLAMABAD: The functioning of a hazardous asphalt plant set up by a military organisation in the heart of the capital city raises questions about the role of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PAK-EPA).

The asphalt plant was installed in 2006 near the Sports Complex by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) with the permission of Planning Directorate of Capital Development Authority (CDA).

But Pak-EPA was unaware that this asphalt plant had ever been installed.

EPA has been monitoring steel furnaces and brick kilns in the past. It even served notices to factories that were emitting harmful gasses and smoke. This particular asphalt plant owned by FWO, however, seemed to have eluded them.

CDA spokesperson Ramzan Sajid conceded that CDA approved the plant, but added that environmental consequences were entirely the EPA’s concern.

Director General PAK-EPA Asif Shuja told The Express Tribune that he had no knowledge about the asphalt plant owned by FWO, but promised to investigate the matter.

Responding to a question, he said, “EPA had already shut down an asphalt plant belonging to CDA in sector D-17 because it violated health safety standards.”

He spoke of the steel furnace and brick kiln owners who had already been served notices for environmental degradation.

“EPA has given them a choice to either change the current system or shift from the residential areas,” said Shuja.

Lt Colonel Nadeem Ahmad, Commandant of Sunmbal Camp who is overseeing the operation of FWO in the capital city, told The Express Tribune that costly Light Diesel Oil was being used in the plant instead of the more environmentally dangerous furnace oil. He said FWO was following environmental rules and regulations.

Experts warn that an asphalt plant releases a large number of chemicals in the air, including various carcinogens like arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, and cadmium. Other toxic agents are released into the air when the asphalt is loaded into trucks and hauled from the plant side.

Stagnant air and weather patterns often increase the level of exposure to local residents.

“Smoke and chemical laden fumes released by the asphalt plant can cause lung infections, anaemia, bronchitis, flu, heart attack and even cancer among the residents of Islamabad,” said Dr Asadullah Nemati, chest physician, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

He said fumes of the asphalt plant contain substances known to cause cancer, coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath, severe irritation of the skin and eyes, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. “The government should take necessary measures to stop the public’s exposure to cancer-causing substances released by the asphalt plant and all factories should be removed from residential areas,” he advised.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2010.