ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES OF NWFP
NWFP has faced tremendous environmental degradation during
the last twenty years. The root causes are rapid urbanization
and overpopulation and the Afghan influx. As a result there
has been a fast depletion of natural resources, deforestation,
water pollution, air pollution and land pollution.
The main problems are:
AIR POLLUTION:
The most serious issue of all the urban centres of NWFP is
the air pollution. The main sources are vehicular emissions;
brick kilns and industries, while some commercial activities,
hotels, restaurants, households and solid waste decomposition
also cause air pollution. As a result levels of toxic gases
like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen,
sulphur, methane, lead, smoke and dust are continuously increasing
in the air. In a study carried out by EPA NWFP the average
carbon monoxide level in Peshawar city was 17 ppm while at
some places it was as high as 38 ppm, while the WHO limit
is 9 ppm. The dust level in the city was 10 times that of
WHO limit. The vehicles also cause noise pollution. At many
spots in the city the noise level was 90db against the WHO
standard of 85db.
WATER POLLUTION:
NWFP has groundwater as well as surface water resources. Two
main rivers of NWFP, River Kabul and River Swat are the major
contributors of the surface water resources, in addition to
other rivers lakes and streams. These are polluted by the
untreated municipal as well as industrial sewage from the
adjoining cities, villages and industrial areas. In a study
of river Kabul the faecal cauliform bacteria count was 1600-1800
per 100 ml of water while according to WHO standards the limit
should not exceed 3/100 ml of water. The Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD) was 13-744 mg/L while the WHO limit is 10 mg/L. Our
groundwater resources are also subject to contamination due
to the unplanned disposal of solid waste which also include
toxic hospital and industrial waste and also stocks of outdated
pesticides which penetrate into ground and pollute the aquifers.
LAND POLLUTION:
Solid waste is also a serious environmental problem. Only
in Peshawar city nearly 590 tonnes of solid waste is produced
daily, 61% of which is collected while the remaining 300 tonnes
is left unmanaged and untreated. Even the collected waste
is not disposed in proper manner. The hazardous waste is disposed
with the municipal waste without any segregation or treatment.
Some other issues are deforestation, soil erosion, water
logging and salinity.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OF N-W.F.P
Environmental Audit Cell
FAPC Wing, Office of the Auditor General of Pakistan
Sunday, October 17, 2004,
