UET, TAXILA CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Assessment Report
History: -

University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, situated at approximately 40 km from

twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, had received its charter as an independent University in
October 1993, prior to which it was the campus of University of Engineering and Technology
Lahore, occupying the land of Sahiwal as its first temporary destination after which it was shifted
to its permanent destination of Taxila, the ancient, historical icon of Pakistan.

Transportation: -
The University Buses meets departure and arrival daily taking numbers of students from all
around the cities of Rawalpindi, Wah Cantt and Islamabad.
University, an educational institution in any country or city is considered as a socioeconomic and
cultural center or hub. UET, also servers this purpose thus has a significant impact on the
environment of the city. This first ever institution of its own type in Taxila covers an area of 163
acres.

Areas of Concern: -
In this environmental Assessment report for university of engineering and technology, out of
many issues in the domain our main concern would be on following areas:
 Water supply and Sewerage Systems
 Solid Waste Management
 Air Quality – Indoor and Out Door
 Noise Level
 Cultural Environment
 Religious Environment
 Socio-Economic
 Landscape
 New Development

Water Supply & Sewerage System: -

Importance of water can never be neglected as far as the sustainability of life is concerned. UET,
Taxila water supply scheme is taking care of all the departments including electrical, mechanical,
civil, telecom, IT department, besides these administrative buildings, mosques, library, cafeteria,
laboratories, hostels, faculty houses and worker houses. Major share of this water supply scheme
is being consumed by residential buildings and as the city is not as much developed
comparatively as other cities of Pakistan, this water is sometimes the major problem for
university especially in summers.

Water supply scheme of university consists of a well – planned central over-head water tanks,
and high-power tube wells one beside the computer/software department, and water treatment
and filtration plant is there.
With the increase in the no. of students and faculty this water supply scheme needs expansion
and increment in the storage
capacity, for this new water reservoirs need to be explored and inputs of them needs to be
included in the main streamline supply. For this Underground water can also be used by using
auger boring techniques etc.
The problem of water availability is mostly faced by students residing in the hostels, because of
shortage of water; there are lines of students in the morning waiting for their turn in the
washrooms. Sometimes the motor gets out of order and thus they need to live without water for a
long time as well; for this proper backup system must be developed to shift the burden on the
parallel water supply schemes.

Sewerage system of University is not up to the mark, in the central portion of the university, this
is not such a big problem, the washrooms, and toilets are properly cleaned and maintained by the
cleaning staff of university. Major problems are within hostels where students face problems like
blockage of gutters etc., making the toilets useless. Thus, proper cleaning and maintenance is
required. Sewerage of the university is disposed off in a nearby Nala passing through the
university as shown in the above picture.

Solid Waste Management: -

The major portion of the waste is being shared by solid waste here in university, because the
university houses hundreds of humans this justifies the reason of the increased production of
solid waste. Solid waste of the university besides sewerage waste includes papers, tins, cans,
shopping bags, wrappers, straws and toxic chemicals as well from the laboratories like silica,
Sulphur, waste concrete etc., as well.
University has Dustbins to invite students, faculty and staff to throw the waste in it; but as a
nation we are not that much responsible and caring to throw them in always; the societies in the
university like Environmental & Horticultural Society is working to encourage the proper
disposal and recycling of solid waste and on the same grounds increasing the awareness among
students and faculty to dispose of the waste properly.
The waste from the hostels, residential buildings and departments is not properly disposed of it is
open dumped which is totally against the law and environmental ethics; thus, there is a need for
proper disposal site to be constructed; so as to eliminate the open dumping and throwing the
waste in the near bear streams as is done now-a-days

Air Quality – Indoor & Outdoor: -

Air quality of the university and the city is being damaged by the nearby crushers and stone
workers and nearby cement factory and flour mills, spreading dust particles, hazardous gases etc.
Air quality of University is maintained by the trees and the grassy lawns along with the esthetic
plants being planted in the university.

In the departments especially in civil engineering laboratories and environmental engineering

laboratories
The use of toxic chemicals:
bitumen, burning of sulfur for concrete capping, dust of sand and soil, damages the indoor air
quality significantly which must be checked, and the effect of these factors must be diluted to
create a healthy environment for the students to work in.
Sound level:
Although sometimes this factor can’t be eliminated completely but, yet it is very important factor
for any educational and health facility. In UET, the departments have their parking areas very
near and thus the horn and sounds of car engines create problems sometimes.
Similarly, buses were first used to crawl in front of the departments while leaving; this has been
checked and now the buses have provided the proper separate path to use while departure.
One very astonishing feature in the noise level of university is the blasting sound you usually
listen due to the near aggregate quarries behind the main university campus. Use of Grass cutting
machines and tankers to water the grass and plants sometimes causes irritation among students
while studying.
Another very common example one can observe is in the library; although library is meant to be
a silent and reading spot; but few months back when someone enters in the library the echo
produced from the steps of the person creates very bad effect in the students studying; but now
the use of sound absorbers like partitioning and carpeting of floors have ultimately helped to
create a good learning silent environment there.

Laboratories can be shifted or constructed at a distant far off the main departments to avoid such
factors, parking area must also be at a distant far off from the department. Use of machineries for
cutting of grass etc. must be avoided near the peak working hours.
• Multi-Cultural Environment: -

UET, Taxila, can be treated as a cultural hub of Punjab, Pakistan. Giving chances to all the
students from around the world like Afghanistan, Jordan etc. and on the same trend from all the
province of Punjab and other Provinces as well. UET is much diversified as far as cultural
environment is concerned.
You will see different peoples of different languages, different colors, castes, religions and
nationalities working hard to uplift the standard of not only their lives but the life of other
humans as well. When UET, Taxila was not there, no one might have imagined such a cultural
fusion to be there living in Taxila, similarly because of being its locality in an ancient, civilized
culture of Taxila, UET, get significant importance in this respect as well.

People visiting the university get amused on how among such a rich ancient heritage, there is a
top-level public university equipped with all modern techniques of engineering and technology.
One will feel pleasure to see cultural events and occasions like spring festival etc.
Religious Environment: -
Religious environment in university premises is very good. University has supplied separate
prayer halls in hostels and a grand mosque is also situated here. In departments, Namaz-e-Zuhar
and Asar is also offered regularly.
Everyone is free to practice his religious views and people from all the sects live here. There is
no tussle between the students and teachers over the religious issues. Sectarianism is not
encouraged here and there has never been sectarian violence in the university premises.
Everyone is free to promote his religious views and thoughts, and no one restrains others from
doing according to their will. Students from religions other than Islam also study here who are
never pointed because of their minority. As per government orders, university observes local
holiday on the occasions of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Yom-e-Aashoora etc.

Socio-Economic: -
One of the very important impacts university has on the environment is socio-economic impact.
The local inhabitants of the region have got chance to get employment there; and not only this
the Taxila region also has a separate Quota for the students to get educated in the university.
Students coming from other cities get a chance to know about Taxila and similarly the
inhabitants of Taxila get a chance to meet students and peoples of different languages, origins,
caste and colors. So, in this way UET can be taken as a medium to let others meet and do
something productive.

Landscape: -
UET Taxila is lucky being situated at a historic place and a place that is amazingly beautiful and
surrounded by mountains and green lush fields. In university premises, trees have been planted
exorbitantly which increase to the beauty of the university.
In winters and during rainy seasons the sky kissing mountains at the back of UET looks
adorable. But the aggregate crushers are removing this beauty from the region. In UET, Taxila
every year the planting schemes and ceremonies are conducted to encourage the rich green
environment in the university. All the departments have beautiful lawns which are covered by
properly cut grass and planted with beautiful flowers, trees and other plants. In this regard,
university administration is doing a great job. On daily basis, grass is properly cut and cutting of
the plants is also done

Flora and Fauna: -

Because of the very rich landscape of UET, you can see a lot
of varieties of flowers, roses etc, trees of various origins, green lush grass of various types.
Because of all these reasons birds of various species can be seen in the university living happily,
along with wild dogs and cats that can be seen even in the mess hall as well. Although these wild
animals shows how healthy the environment is for life but still sometimes they causes problems,
thus there must be proper planned nurseries for them where they can live without damaging the
life of humans or disturbing them.

New Development: -
University administration has been improving the facilities in the university. New departments
have been established recently under project “SAUG” that was administered by the building and
works department of the university. A new residential hall for boys has also been constructed in
 university that is of capacity of 150 boys. Also, civil engineering department has also been
extended and four new lecture halls have been constructed. Environmental, electronics and basic
sciences departments have been shifted to newly constructed building named “combined
academic block”. A new “Water Resources Department” is also ready to use to accommodate
new studying facility for the students. Moreover
UET, Taxila needs new auditorium, because the conference hall is not enough to house large no.
of visitors or participants. In the future, university has also planned to construct new boys hostel
due to prevailing number of students.

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