Elysium Towers, a commercial and residential skyscraper in the federal capital, failed to produce environmental impact assessment (EIA) report before the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change here on Thursday. The committee stressed that the EIA certificate is necessary in view of environment protection and directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to send the map to Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (PEPA) for the environmental impact assessment.
The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change was held under the chairmanship of Senator Mir Muhammad Yousaf Badini. The committee discussed the scarcity of water due to climate change impacts.
The secretary Climate Change and Secretary Ministry of Water and Power briefed the committee over impacts of climate change and the measures/steps being taken to tackle with the emerging threats, including construction of water reservoir at Diamer-Bhasha and treatment of saline water.
The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change directed the ministry to subject no objection certificates (NOCs) to car service stations to the condition of recycling their used water in Islamabad Capital Territory.
The special assistant to the chief minister Sindh briefed the committee over Water Sector Improvement Project, Lower Sindh Basin.
The matter was discussed in detail and the committee agreed to recommend that 50 percent cost should be shared by the federal government; however, the committee members will visit to see the area.
The committee also recommended the persons who have lost their precious lives while protecting mangrove forests in Sindh for civil award.
The secretary Islamabad Club briefed the committee over the failure in getting the environmental impact assessment report from the PAK-EPA.
The committee recommended forwarding the issue to the law department to see the legal aspects on the position being taken by the Islamabad Club and Ministry of Climate Change.
The committee also discussed the decreasing population of vultures in the country and stressed that conservation of vultures is important for environment. The committee also observed that a ground visit to Gwader is required to assess the environmental issues there.
The meeting was attended by Senators Nuzhat Sadiq, Samina Abid, Gul Bashra, Saleem Zia and Taj Haider (special invitee), and other senior official concerned.