F-9 Park grid station: IESCO summoned for starting work illegally
Power company did not obtain no objection certificate, says EPA official
Residents of the federal capital complained at a public hearing last week that Iesco had started initial construction work at F-9 Park without following the rules. STOCK IMAGE
ISLAMABAD:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has summoned the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) for personal hearing on gross violation of environmental rules by initiating construction work on grid station in F-9 Park illegally and without obtaining a no objection certificate (NOC) from the environment-regulating body. This was said by an EPA official while talking to The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.
He said residents of the federal capital complained at a public hearing last week that Iesco had started initial construction work at F-9 Park without following the rules.
The official mentioned that EPA Director General (DG) Dr Khursheed Khan had assured citizens at the hearing that he would personally visit the site and legal action would be taken if they were found violating environmental laws.
“He visited the site where construction work was being carried out by Iesco in violation of warnings issued by the EPA and a Supreme Court verdict regarding use of park land for any other purposes,” he added.
The official said that if Iesco continued with its violations, it would have to appear before an environmental tribunal.
The environmental watchdog had told the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Iesco to stop building the grid station in the park.
Public hearing
At a public hearing last Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asked the CDA to ‘de-notify’ the land before it could allow Iesco to go ahead with the plan.
The authority had allotted 10 kanals in Fatima Jinnah Park to Iesco free-of-cost for the construction of a 78 MW grid station and transmission lines.
At the hearing, capital residents criticised the CDA for ‘gifting’ the land to Iesco, terming it illegal and in violation of rules.
A representative of the consultant firm, Project Procurement International (PPI), had told the participants of the public hearing that the project, if executed, will fulfill the electricity needs of almost 200,000 people.
He had also disclosed that Iesco had already taken possession of the land and that a total 90 trees would be cut for the construction of the grid station.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has summoned the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) for personal hearing on gross violation of environmental rules by initiating construction work on grid station in F-9 Park illegally and without obtaining a no objection certificate (NOC) from the environment-regulating body. This was said by an EPA official while talking to The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.
He said residents of the federal capital complained at a public hearing last week that Iesco had started initial construction work at F-9 Park without following the rules.
The official mentioned that EPA Director General (DG) Dr Khursheed Khan had assured citizens at the hearing that he would personally visit the site and legal action would be taken if they were found violating environmental laws.
“He visited the site where construction work was being carried out by Iesco in violation of warnings issued by the EPA and a Supreme Court verdict regarding use of park land for any other purposes,” he added.
The official said that if Iesco continued with its violations, it would have to appear before an environmental tribunal.
The environmental watchdog had told the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Iesco to stop building the grid station in the park.
Public hearing
At a public hearing last Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asked the CDA to ‘de-notify’ the land before it could allow Iesco to go ahead with the plan.
The authority had allotted 10 kanals in Fatima Jinnah Park to Iesco free-of-cost for the construction of a 78 MW grid station and transmission lines.
At the hearing, capital residents criticised the CDA for ‘gifting’ the land to Iesco, terming it illegal and in violation of rules.
A representative of the consultant firm, Project Procurement International (PPI), had told the participants of the public hearing that the project, if executed, will fulfill the electricity needs of almost 200,000 people.
He had also disclosed that Iesco had already taken possession of the land and that a total 90 trees would be cut for the construction of the grid station.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.