EPA provisionally allows work on Ring Road project.

RAWALPINDI -- The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab has given provisional approval for starting construction work on Ring Road project.

If the work is not started within three years, the administration will have to get new permission.

Ring Road will be constructed over 1,923 acres and start from National Highway (N-5) near Rawat (Radio Pakistan). After passing through Motorway M 2, Islamabad International Airport, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route and Motorway M-1, the road will terminate at National Highway (N-5) in Sangjani.

A senior official of EPA-Punjab told Dawn that the provisional approval given on Nov 25 would remain valid till Nov 2023. However, he said, EPA has issued 14 points environmental quality standards and if the execution agency failed to adopt it the permission can be withdrawn.

He said a letter had been sent to the commissioner Rawalpindi who is the project director to ensure the quality standards are met.

According to the letter, the execution agency would ensure to plant 300,000 trees of 6-7 feet height of indigenous species in the district in consultation with the environment departments of Rawalpindi and Attock. It will also ensure transplantation of trees to be cut/affected during construction phase of the project.

Mitigation measures suggested in the EIA report and environment management plan (EMP) shall be strictly adhered to control any negative impacts on soil, groundwater, air and biological resources of the project area.

The contractor will do landscaping and restore the environment after completion of the construction work and it will allocate sufficient budget for enhancement of environment beautification.

The official said...