Assignment Top Sheet

Department of Civil Engineering & Technology

Student Name; Instructor Name ;

Muhammad Kamran Engr. Shakeel Hassan

Registration No; Assignment No;

BECV-023R18-18 01

Subject Name Section Semester

Environmental Engineering-II A 8th

Topic;
Environmental Impact assessment

Total Marks; Obtained Marks

10

Signature: Date: 21-03-2022

 Introduction
Pakistan is experiencing a rapidly growing economy as well as high population and urbanization
growth. Ineffective natural resource management over many years and a long history of
unplanned development not only have had negative impacts on Pakistan's socio-economic fabric
but also on its environment, particularly in urban areas. Safeguarding public health and
preserving its natural wonders has made environmental protection increasingly important. In
order to make informed decisions and facilitate sustainable development for future generations,
environmental impact assessment (EIA) offers a systematic process for examining the
environmental consequences of a development related initiative (Glasson et al., 1999). In Pakistan,
like in many jurisdictions around the globe, not all development activities need to undergo
EIA but those likely to have adverse environmental and social impacts. But, it does not appear
as an effective tool to “safeguard” the environment and socio-economic fabric of the
communities in Pakistan (Aslam, 2006; Saeed, 2004). To date, research on EIA has included
numerous studies mainly on procedures and EIA effectiveness and comparative analyses of
different EIA systems (Ahmad and Wood, 2002; Barker and Wood, 1999; Lee and George,
2000; Lim, 1985; Sadler, 1996; Wood, 2003). However, not much research has been
undertaken on the functioning of the EIA system in Pakistan. This research paper aims at filling
this gap.
The contemporary EIA practice is facing several challenges, some of which are (Wood,
2003):
 weak integration of EIA into decision making system
 inadequate involvement of stakeholders in the EIA process
 inadequate converge of impacts
 poor quality of EIA reports
 inadequate review of EIA reports
 weak implementation of mitigation measures and monitoring of impacts.

International experiences indicate that political factors have been the driving forces behind the
introduction and practice of EIA (Thomas, 2001). Cultural influences and economic conditions
have been said to have significant bearing on the form of an EIA system. Generally speaking,
EIA appears to be most effective where environmental values are integrated into a nation's
culture and public law and policy (Thomas, 2001). Though relevant literature suggest that, the
shortcomings of contemporary EIA practice could possibly be overcome. This may involve
enhancing the institutional capacity to provide clear guidelines, initiating the assessment
process at early stages of the project, adequately involving stakeholders, systematically
reviewing EIA quality and monitoring its implementation (Ahmad and Wood, 2002; Sadler,
1996). Nonetheless, “contribution made by EIA, both to consent decisions and to project
design, is generally moderate rather than substantial”
 Evaluation criteria
The evaluation criteria methodologies for analysis of the EIA system of Pakistan are taken from
Ahmad and Wood (2002), Wood (2003) and Fuller (1999). These criteria consist of aims and stages
of EIA (screening, scoping, review of EIA reports, public participation, decision making, mitigation
of impacts and monitoring). Generally speaking, “[t]he focus of the criteria is on the requirements
and operation of the EIA process” (Wood, 2003, p12). Evaluation of legislative provisions,
guidelines and institutional set up for EIA has been included to provide a comprehensive picture of
the system. The identification of the attitudes and opinions of those involved in the process, i.e.
proponents, consultants and concerned officials also provides valuable input for the evaluation, as
has been suggested by Bartlett and Baber (1989). Table 1 presents the evaluation criteria.

List of evaluation criteria used to analyse the EIA system of Pakistan

1. Legislative provisions for EIA
• Legal provisions
• Legal provisions for appeal by the proponent or stakeholders against decisions
• Legal specification of time limits for approval and appeal
• Legal provisions for SEA

2) Administrative set up for EIA

• Competent authority for EIA screening and approval
• EIA review body
• Specification of responsibilities of sectoral authorities in the EIA process
• Level of coordination with other planning and development
agencies/departments

3) EIA process and practice

• Specification of screening categories
• Screening approach
• Scoping approach
• Requirement for consideration of alternatives
• Specification of EIA report contents
• Systematic approach for the review of EIA report
• Public participation in the EIA process
• Systematic approach for decision making and approval
• Specified requirement for environmental management plans
• Specified requirement for mitigation of impacts
• Specified requirement for monitoring of impacts
• SEA Experience
Screening
 Significance of EIA

Environmental impact assessment is not a procedure for preventing actions with significant
environmental impacts from being implemented. Rather the intention is that project actions are
authorized in the full knowledge of their environmental impacts. There are some cases that EIA
takes place in a political context. It is inevitable that economic, social or political factors will
outweigh environmental factors in many instances. This is why the mitigation measures are so
central to EIA. Decisions on proposals in which the adverse environmental effects have been
mitigated are much easier to make and justify than those in which mitigation has not been
achieved. The significance of EIA is:

1) EIA is more than technical reports, it is a means to a larger intention – the protection
and improvement of the environmental quality of life.
2) EIA is a procedure to identify and evaluate the effects of activities (mainly human) on
the environment - natural and social. It is not a single specific analytical method or
technique, but uses many approaches as appropriate to the problem.
3) EIA is not a science but uses many sciences in an integrated inter-disciplinary manner,
evaluating phenomenon and relationships as they occur in the real world.
4) EIA should not be treated as an appendage, or add-on, to a project, but be regarded as
an integral part of project planning. Its costs should be calculated as an adequate part of
planning and not regarded as something extra.
5) EIA does not give decisions but its findings should be considered in policy- and
decision-making and should be reflected in final choices. Thus i t should be part of the
decision-making process.

The findings of EIA should be focused on the significant and essential issues. It is also required
to provide a sufficient explanation on why they are important, and study its validity in order to
facilitate a basis for policy decisions.

Conclusions and recommendations

Pakistan is one of the developing countries that has sound legal provisions for EIA.
Furthermore, a comprehensive package of EIA guidelines exists. While it appears that EIA in
Pakistan is improving steadily, an overall evaluation of the EIA system reveals several
weaknesses, not only in the institutional framework, but also in implementation and actual
practice. The influence of EIA on decision making is weak, owing to numerous reasons
pertaining to inadequate technical and financial resources, deficiencies in screening and
scoping, weak coordination, subjective review, ineffective public participation and no
formal monitoring. Nonetheless, some opportunities other than the legal basis also exist in
the form of political support of EIA, third party review and role of NGOs and media in
supporting public concerns. Thus, there is a good hope that the EIA system in Pakistan will
strengthen further in near future. The need is to tap the existing opportunities. It is
suggested that the following measures can help enhance the effectiveness of the EIA system
in Pakistan.

 The legal framework for EIA in the country is strong enough to provide back up for
taking stern action against violators of EIA requirements. It needs a strong political will
and institutional capacity to enforce the 1997 Pakistan Environment Protection Act.
The decision of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council includes some
political will. The EIA directorates of the EPAs should be strengthened by giving more
administrative powers to impose fine or seal any project violating EIA requirements. In
this regards, adequately qualified staff and equipment particularly required for
inspection and enforcement are some of the pre-requisites.
 Good coordination among proponents/consultants, financial institutions, revenue/land
registration department, planning and building control and utility services providing
agencies can play a pivotal role in consideration of their concerns early in the EIA
process. It would also help in ensuring that no project, likely to have adverse
environmental impacts could be launched before securing EIA clearance. This can be
achieved by making amendments in the 1997 PEPA to assign responsibility to all the
aforementioned government departments/agencies to coordinate with the concerned
Environment Protection Agency before extending any services to the projects requiring
an EIA under the Act.
 The Planning and Development Department should send a copy of the IEE of projects
to the concerned EPA for decision on whether an EIA is required or not. The revision
of screening lists (schedules of projects requiring an IEE/EIA) has been due for many
years. The Pakistan Environment Protection Agency should initiate consultations with
all the concerned government departments/agencies, EIA experts and academia to
update the lists. EPAs should ensure, by giving significant weight during review, that
the proponent has consulted stakeholders and incorporated their concerns into the EIA
report. EPAs should also be held responsible for scoping like in Sri Lanka (Zubair, 2001).
This can help ensure an early consi- deration of major areas of concern by the directly
affected public and the concerned government departments.
 Review should, however, be done by independent EIA review bodies at different
levels of decision making. Third party evaluation is already done at individual
Environment Protection Agency (EPA) levels. Such review bodies/boards can be
established at federal and provincial levels like the environmental tribunals. Official
sources also confirmed that EPAs have asked the government to increase funds
allocation for the review committees as without paying handsome remuneration
some experts do not return their comments and even the copy of EIA report.