ISLAMABAD: Senators on Monday were concerned after it emerged that solid waste and sewerage was being dumped into the Rawal Lake, either directly or indirectly, which could endanger those consuming water supplied from it.
Senator Ayaz noted that the Rawal Dam, which serves as a water supply reservoir, was being contaminated by toxic water which drains into the lake.
Committee members noted that waste from the Rawal Lake Park was also dumped into the lake which further contaminates the water in the reservoir.
She detailed how it had been working as an attached department of the Climate Change Ministry following the promulgation of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance 1983.
Moreover, 54 notices were issued to offenders and polluters, violators of the act.
Shah, however, noted that they lacked sufficient human resource for monitoring of hospitals and the method of waste disposal.
Since 2004, they have received 92 cases for petrol pumps of which 81 were approved.
For CNG stations, all 133 applications received were approved.
Senator Ayaz asked why EPA had been created if it did not have the facilities and human resources to do its job.
Climate Change Ministry Secretary Khizer Hayat said that they were making efforts to achieve the set targets as per international conventions and treaties.