national impact assessment programme (niap) public participation in eia – how can it help in...

National Impact Assessment Programme (NIAP)

Public Participation in EIA – How Can it Help in Resolving Conflict ?

Asadullah Faiz, Director General, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency

IAIA 2011, Puebla, Mexico


Contents

• Introduction• Kurri Landfill Project• Design Considerations• EIA, Review Process and Public Consultation• Challenges• Conclusions• Way Forward


Introduction

• Pakistan (South Asian Country)– Population: 177.10 million– Area: 796,095 sq km– GDP: US$ 203.58 Billion– Per Capita Income: US$ 1051 (2009-10)

• Islamabad (Capital City)– Population: 1.33 million– Solid Waste Production: 500-600 tons per day– Capital Development Authority (CDA): Municipal

authority to provide civic amenities for Islamabad


Introduction

• Planning and Development Division, Government of Pakistan – 5 Year plan for developing 5 landfill sites in

Pakistan– Kurri at Islamabad (the 1st project)


Kurri Landfill Project

• Integrated Waste Management Project• Design: International Standard & Specifications• Area: 40.46 Hectares• Assessment of Alternate Sites• Land recommended by Civil Aviation Authority

(CAA), Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and Pak-Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA)

• Acquisition of Land


Kurri Landfill Project

• Facilities at the Landfill Site– Composting Facility– Leachate Treatment Facility / Gas Collection

Facility– Environmental & Waste Management Training

Institute for Training of Staff– Ancillary & Support Facilities– Waste Transfer Station / Material Recovery

Facility


Design Consideration

• Technology: Anaerobic• Life Span: 22 – 25 years• Specific Pollution Control Technologies• Technical Studies / Technical Experts Inputs• Development in 3 Phases to Minimize Construction

Period • Noise and Vibration• Air Pollution• Topography, Geology and Soil• Surface and Ground Water• Ecology


EIA, Review Process and Public Consultation

• EIA Submission, Review by Pak-EPA & Committee• Public Consultations – 7• Public Hearing – Attended by 179 representatives• Meetings of all Stakeholders – 5• Consultations with Local residents, Environmentalists,

NGOs, Educationists, CDA, Consultants, Media Representatives, NGOs, WWF, IUCN, International Experts, etc.

• Conditional Environmental Approval by Pak-EPA – 28th Feb, 2008

• Writ Petition in the court of law – 3rd July 2008


Challenges

• Lack of Political Will• Lack of Vision• Tyranny of Participation• Social Issues – Paternalistic Societies, Interest

Groups, Compensation, Resettlement, etc• Lack of Trust Between Communities and

Municipal Authorities• Regulatory Challenges


Conclusion

• Relevant Stakeholders to be consulted from inception stage

• Writ of the Government to be exercised judiciously

• Official ownership and will to defend at legal form


Way Forward

• Environmental Protection Agency to play more assertive role

• Improvement in Legislative Framework

• Ministry of Environment and CDA in consultation with Planning & Development Division to make efforts for reviving the project


Thank you!

national impact assessment programme (niap) public participation in eia – how can it help in...

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