PESHAWAR, Jan 31: The NWFP Environment Department has set up goals for 2009 being observed as ‘year of environment’. The department has planned to plant 2.38 million trees on world environment day, make all marble industrial units in NWFP pollution-free and raise awareness about clean environment.

The department organised a one-day seminar here at Peshawar Press Club and listed a number activities to be held to observe 2009 as an ‘environment year’.

Environment Secretary Dr Hammad Owaise Agha explained how environment had been neglected in the past. Rapid urbanisation coupled with many other factors damaged the environment.

The department set up a management group, which would integrate all the line departments to coordinate efforts to save environment, he said.

He said that media should highlight not only environmental issues but help raise awareness among the people to protect and conserve environment. The department would hold awareness-raising seminars at Peshawar Press Club for different groups of society and initiate other activities throughout the year, Mr Agha announced.

Environmental Protection Agency Director General Dr Mohammad Bashir Khan said that the agency would try to make environment clean. It would ensure that all the marble industrial units in NWFP install treatment plants so that they didn’t pollute the environment, he added.

He said that around 60 such marble industrial units had installed treatment plants and around 80 were being prosecuted for violation. Dr Bashir said that EPA would monitor all the developmental projects and assess their environmental impact.

He said that Vehicular Emission Testing Stations of EPA were functional in Mingora and Peshawar and the agency were also planning to set up such stations in Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan and Abbottabad.

He said that a federal government funded project worth Rs600 million was yet to be executed by the local government of Peshawar district.

“We took outdated pesticides to UK with the financial help of Germany and successfully incinerated it,” Dr Bashir said. He said that the agency had filed 231 cases so far with the environmental tribunal and 205 were decided in its favour.

“In year 2009, we plan to raise awareness about clean environment through seminars , observing World Water Day, World Environment Day, World Ozone Day and holding walks and debate competitions among students, run ads in print media and show programmes about environment on TV and radio,” he said, while listing the activities they planned for ‘the environment year’.

Sharifullah Jan highlighted the importance of saving water from contamination. He said that some projects like that of Ghazi Barotha had affected fisheries near Attock.

Speaking about bio-diversity in NWFP, Mubarak Ali Shah complained that natural habitats of many rare species of birds and animals had been affected.

“We plan to raise awareness among hunters and teach them hunting ethics. We also plan to set up 200 nature clubs in schools,” he said.

He said that three new national parks would be set up in Swat, Chitral and Haripur while 100 protected sites and five peasantries would be maintained and developed.

Chief Conservator Nazir Mohammad Khan said that they would try to set a new world record by planting around 2.38 million trees on a single day this year.

NWFP Environment Minister Wajid Ali Khan said that all those efforts could be successful if people volunteered to save environment.

“We should not shift responsibility rather we should share it to keep our environment clean. We all need to protect our environment by taking small steps like not throwing garbage or saving water,” the minister said.

He said that in 2009 they should try to save water and plant trees.

He also encouraged media to write more about environmental issues and create awareness instead of just writing about terrorism and violence.

“You take part in this effort and write about protection of environment and we would acknowledge your effort by announcing provincial environmental awards,” he told journalists.