RAWALPINDI, Sept 16: Environment authorities in Rawalpindi have expressed resentment over government's decision to launch two mega projects in the city without getting the mandatory environment impact assessment (EIA).

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will soon inaugurate work on the construction of an underpass on Peshawar Road and a flyover on Benazir Bhutto Road that will collectively cost Rs1.4 billion.

Talking to Dawn here on Friday, District Officer Environment Shaukat Hayat said the authorities concerned had so far not approached his office for getting the no-objection certificate prior to launching of the projects.

He said under the Pakistan Environment Protection Act 1997, every development agency was required to get the impact of a certain project on its surrounding environment assessed.

He, however, regretted that the authorities seemed least bothered about the aspect of environment before launching of the development projects in the city.

The officer said the flyover from Benazir Bhutto Hospital to Chandni Chowk was no doubt a step to reduce traffic congestions but at the same the project would affect patients in the nearby hospital who would be exposed to the noise of vehicular traffic on the elevated highway.

“After completion of the flyover, traffic would run above the hospital and resultantly the noise pollution would become a hazard for the patients, visitors and physicians. We do not have reservations over the project but at least we should be consulted to improve the project in all aspects,” Mr Hayat maintained.

He said major traffic diversions during the construction of the two projects would also affect residential areas as the traffic would be diverted to the inner city areas after the blockade of Peshawar Road and Benazir Bhutto Road. He said environment authorities should equally be made stakeholders in order to ensure that lives of people were not disturbed.

The environment officer said the construction of the underpass on Peshawar Road would result in deep digging of the soil that would not only disturb water table but would also lead to cutting down of roots of several trees along the road.

“Development disturbs routine life for a certain time but we must make it sure that the disadvantages of a project did not exceed its advantages. The dilemma here is that all stakeholders are not taken on board before launching of any project,” he said.