NWFP Minister for Environment, Wajid Ali Khan has said that a comprehensive study would be undertaken for evaluating present state of environment in the province and measures for bringing improvement in it.
In an interview with APP here at his office on Thursday, the Provincial Minister said that environment is a vast field and efforts would be made for involving all the stakeholders for achieving the desired goals.
Wajid Ali Khan said he has planned conducting comprehensive study in all the fields of environment including forest, water, air, noise, solid waste disposal etc so that an assessment could be made about the present state of environment.
After holding of the study, he continued, measures would be taken to redress the problems so that clean environment could be provided to people and other creatures.
About his priorities, the Provincial Minister said his focus is on containing increasing level of air and noise pollution and improvement in forest. He said government would also concentrate on early initiation of CNG driven buses in the province so that people could get some relief from presently plying ramshackle diesel buses emitting huge smoke.
In order to control smoke emission from vehicles, he added, Vehicle Emission Testing Station (VETS) activities would be expedited so that such vehicles be checked and the problem is rectified. Similarly, he added, for controlling noise pollution, action would be taken against use of pressure horns. He said provincial government would not allow use of any thing, which is prohibited by law and is harmful to human health.
He also stressed upon the federal government to prepare a plan for replacement of old and rickety passenger buses, wagons and rickshaws posing serious danger to human health by polluting the environment.
He said owners of these vehicles could be compensated in a manner that their earning is not affected and the vehicle they are using is replaced with a new one. Provincial Minister said he is attending briefings of different departments working under Environment Ministry and soon decisions would be taken for improving the prevailing state of affair.
In response to solid waste disposal, Provincial Minister said he would look into the issue seriously and take measures for its proper disposal. He said he would also get information about a programme for proper re-cycling of solid waste. About installation of filter plants for provision of clean drinking water, the Provincial Minister said work on the project is already in progress.
The present government, he continued, would focus on its proper implementation so that a filter plant at each Union Council level is installed for provision of clean drinking water to people. NWFP Minister for Environment said government would involve people belonging to different walks of life including NGOs for improvement in environment in the province.
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