PESHAWAR, April 14: The Environmental Protection Authority of the NWFP Environment Department has issued notices to various authorities asking them to clarify their position with regard to violation of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, on April 24.

In a notice issued to Peshawar District Nazim, Peshawar DCO, the Director-General of CD&MD, the Cantonment Executive of Peshawar and Nazimeen of Town one, two, three and four, the EPA Director-General says during various campaigns conducted by the EPA for analysing samples of municipal waste water from drains at different sites in Peshawar, it was observed that most of the parameters exceeded the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), which are in violation of Section 11 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 and these are due to the reason that either waste water treatment facility is not available or if available, this is not working.

The notice further says that these untreated effluents are not only contaminating the ground water quality but are ultimately discharged into the Kabul River which pollutes the surface water quality and have adverse effects on agricultural, productivity, human health and aquatic life.

All these authorities have been advised to appear in person or through their authorized representatives in the office of DG, EPA, on April 24 to clarify their position on the subject.

—APP