Our entire economic framework rests on environmental well-being. For long treated as an "externality," environmental problems result in costs, breaking down the free market model, eating away our national income and retarding true growth.
Although our economy and stability has allowed many foreign companies to invest in the country, we should take into account that poverty is fast rising, and the gap between rich and poor is increasing. This is giving rise to various problems in our social set-up.
"Pro-poor" and "awam dost" and the "rise in GDP" have become buzz words of the budget season. The recent budget can truly be "pro-poor," if environmental factors are fully taken into account.
Efforts in increasing the budgetary allocation to the environment sector are commendable, allocations having jumped from Rs 300 million in 2003 to Rs 3 billion in 2004-2005, further increasing to Rs 5 billion in 2005-2006. However, implementation of programme and laws to build a strong culture whereby environment and poverty are taken into full consideration, still remains a distant dream.
Last year, the State Minister for Environment, Malik Amin Aslam cited environmental degradation responsible for a hefty 6% GDP loss due to environmental costs. Studies by the Sustainable Development Program Institute (SDPI) in 2003 cited 3-5% GDP loss then and projected this figure to rise up to 4-8 % by 2010.
Our basis for survival, wealth and growth is at stake. The current approach will get us in trouble sooner than later; our land, water and air need appropriate budgetary support, alongside implementation of proper solutions in the environmental sector, so that this treacherous decline is stopped.
Monitoring and implementation of projects: role of EPAs Allocations to the environment is only the beginning of a long road to recovering our lost natural treasures. We need to build strong institutions with proper human resource and implementation powers to get results. The Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) should play a strong role in this regard.
SOME OF THE FEW STEPS FOR STRENGTHENING THE EPAS ARE:
-- Build a strong independent Federal EPA, having legal coercive powers along with the provincial EPAs in enforcing laws, especially related to emissions by industries
-- Federal and Provincial EPAs should be properly staffed with technical personnel to monitor the progress of various projects and programs in the public and private sector
-- EPAs should act as watchdogs over projects so that no project is planned or goes astray, ending, up in damaging the environment
MEGA ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS:
Mega development projects have sadly wreaked havoc with the environment, worsening poverty throughout the country. While we work on trillions of rupees worth mega projects, the budgets allocated for the environment should be used for mega environment projects, which take into full account sustainable development and which directly benefit the people.
THESE SHOULD INCLUDE:
MEGA INDIGENOUS AFFORESTATION PROJECT:
In both urban and rural areas, the Forest Department should work for guarding and reviving community and government owned forests, while city governments should work on greening cities and peri-urban areas with indigenous trees.
National plantation days in March and August We celebrate so many other days such as Valentine's and Mother's day, which we have borrowed from the West. There should be a national policy for celebrating national plantation days twice every year, once in the spring plantation season in February/March, and once in the Monsoon plantation season. Further, we should celebrate our Independence day with indigenous plantation and sustaining that plantation for the rest of the year. This will greatly help in improving the urban and rural environment and will benefit the poor.
The National Plantation Day will mobilise our communities for the cause of plantation as a communal, national and global cause. This again requires political will to mobilize resources in making such events a success. Experts in agriculture, local ecology and botanists should be involved in the plantation of indigenous species, so that funds are not wasted on either exotics or geographically misplaced trees.
STOPPING THE BRAIN DRAIN FROM NARC:
The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) is suffering from a severe brain drain. This premiere institution must honour, attract and retain top level researchers in the country who can work independently, and not under pressure or on projects funded by the corporate sector that might intend to exploit our lands and resources. NARC also needs to be developed into a regional hub for promotion of traditional farming methods, organic farming and ways to ensure our food security.
These experts and departments must focus on indigenous species and also research medical and economic benefits from them. Further, they should be funded for phasing out the exotic species in a phased manner.
Another challenge that our country faces is from companies promoting Genetically Modified Organisms. Although the EPA has warned and not allowed GMOs and GMO seeds in the country, various incentives are being offered by biotech companies to which we should not give in. The NARC should house experts that look for long term organic solutions, and completely avoid the curse of GMOs to enter the country.
MEGA DRINKING WATER PROJECT:
Water being a basic human right has been ignored as the prime source of disease and poverty for the last 50 years. Schemes for privatisation of water should be stopped, and clean water made available for each and every individual. The PCRWR has detailed studies of water contamination from many parts of the country. Other institutions such as PCSIR should be involved in formulating solutions to different types of contamination and availability issues, and provide clean drinking water at the household level.
Long term solutions should be sought for the availability and quality of water. Short term fixes like filtration plants have proved to be a failure in the past few years.
MEGA WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS:
Water lost on a daily basis is estimated to be 60% due to the leaking transmission systems. Although lining of water courses and other measures have been initiated by the government, water wastage and mismanagement continues unabated in the agriculture sector, industry, and by the common people.
BELOW ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS IN THIS REGARD:
-- Rational pricing of water should be introduced in the industrial sector. Right now there is no delineation between people using different amounts of water, while wastage is also not being discouraged. Rational pricing should be one of the key initiatives so that water is charged from the industry accordingly. An added benefit of this would be conservation of water by the industry as an incentive for savings.
-- Water lines in the cities have become outdated or damaged. These not only need repair, but also replacement. Since the capital is the biggest consumer of water per capita, it should be the model of a water conservation city. CDA's maintenance funds should be channelized for the purpose. This should be undertaken throughout Pakistan.
-- Awareness raising of the public and enforcing laws should be one of the prime initiatives. Again, citizens of the capital are the biggest water wasters, with car washing with hoses being one flagrant sign. Although CDA has laws to check this practice, awareness and implementation of such laws need to be promoted in all cities.
(To be concluded)
(Shahida Kauser Farooq, is Chairperson Subh-e-Nau: An Environment and PH Concern and Chief Editor, of The Monthly Subh-e-Nau.)