WAPDA ENVIRONMENT CELL (WEC) PRIVATE
Background
The Wapda Environment Cell (WEC) was created in 1989 to address environmental aspects of WAPDA projects in both Water and Power Wings. For capacity building of WEC, the Asian Development Bank, in 1993, offered Technical Assistance for the Strengthening of Environmental Management for Water Resources Projects of WAPDA with an overall objective to ensure that WAPDA's water resources projects and programs will be environmentally sound and so result in sustainable socioeconomic development. To achieve this goal, the Technical Assistance Program focused on two key objectives.
· To strengthen, upgrade and enhance the technical capability of environmental management in the already existing WAPDA Environment Cell (WEC).
· To recommend an institutional framework and linkages that would enable effective application of this capability within WAPDA and within national framework of environmental institutions.
Under this Technical Assistance Program, in-house, on-the-job and foreign training was provided to WEC staff by the consultants engaged specifically for this purpose. The training focused on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and review, Management and Environmental Monitoring & Evaluation System of water sector projects of WAPDA. It was also recommended that WEC should serve as a focal point for handling environmental assignments and to develop an environmental information system to support, planning, design and operation of projects in Water and Power Wing of WAPDA.
Organization
Wapda Environment Cell (WEC) is presently functioning under the administrative control of General Manager (Technical Services). Realizing the importance of environmental aspects of water resources projects, a post of Director General (WEC) was also created and now DG (WEC) heads Wapda Environment Cell.
Staff strength of the organization is 12, which consists of a Director, 4 Deputy Director level posts of different disciplines, 5 Research Officers of different disciplines, and a Civil Engineers.
Achievements
WEC, on the basis of in house, on-the-job and foreign trainings of its staff, and gradually accumulating experience has completed the following Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Environmental Management Plan and Resettlement Action Plan for many projects of national importance.
1. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Chashma Right Bank Canal Stage-I & II, Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project (CRBIP)
2. Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) of Chashma Right Bank Canal Stage-III Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project (CRBIP)
3. Environmental Management Plan of Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project (CRBIP)
4. Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) of Mangi Dam Project.
5. Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) of Sabakzai Dam Project
6. EIA of Fordwah Sadiqia Remaining Project (FSR), Bahawalnagar.
7. Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) of Naulong Storage Dam.
8. Rehabilitation of Manka and Kappar Drains of D.G.Khan.
9. Environmental Monitoring of Evaporation Ponds of SCARP-VI.
10. Preliminary Environmental Study of Skardu Carryover Dam Project.
11. Environmental Study of Kachhi Canal with Barrage at Mithankot.
12. EIA of Kachhi Canal Off-taking from Taunsa Barrage.
13. Initial Environmental Examination of Nai Gaj Dam Project.
14. Preliminary Environmental Examination of Drainage Master Plan (DMP).
15. Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) of Sabakzai Dam Project.
16. Environmental & Social Assessment (ESA) of 220 kV Kassowal Grid Station and Associated Transmission Line.
17. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of RBOD, Stage-III Project.
18. Assessment of social and Environmental Monitoring of GBHP
19. Environmental Assessment of Gurah Uttam Singh Project
20. Assisted in hiring of Environmental & Resettlement Monitoring Consultants for GBHP.
21. Social & Environmental Monitoring of GBHP– (2000 to 2007
22. Assisted in hiring the Consultancy Services for Baseline studies for Environmental Monitoring of Evaporation Ponds and Adjacent areas of Fordwah Eastern Sadiqia (South) Project, May 1998.
23. Initial Environmental Examination of Qaim Bharwana Biological Drainage Project.
24. Environmental Assessment of Chashma Jehlam Link Canal.
25. Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (CHIA) study for Diamir Basha Dam project (through Consultants).
1. Environment Studies
A Study on Environmental water releases from 3 High Head Hydropower (Khwar) Projects.
A Technical Paper regarding Aquatic Ecology Management of Khwar Projects under changing environmental conditions was prepared on the basis of site visit. The paper was presented in a symposium managed by the Pakistan Engineering Congress.
Prepared Final Report on Environmental and social Monitoring Assessment of Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project (GBHP).
EIA of Bhimbher flood Protection Scheme is going to be undertaken.
WEC office prepared work plan, schedule of activities and cost Estimates to carry out the EIA work for the Gomal Zam Dam Project 132 KV transmission line.
WEC is providing Top Advisory Services for Implementation of Environmental Mitigation & Monitoring Plan (EMMP) for Gomal Zam & Satpara Dam Projects.
2. Review of EIA Reports/Documents
Wapda Environment Cell reviewed and offered valuable comments on the following reports prepared by the Consultants.
EIA Report of Bunji Hydropower Project.
EIA Report of Hingol Dam Project.
EIA Updation Report 2010 of Neelum Jhelum Hepp.
EIA Report of Pelar Dam Project.
Status Report of Environment & Resettlement for Tarbela and Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project- Legacy Issues.
Scoping Document regarding Environmental & Socail Impact Assessment Study of Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project.
Draft Report-EIA 2010 on Diamer Basha Dam Project (DBDP).
Review of Report on Gomal Zam Dam Multipurpose Project- Raid Environmental Analysis and EMMP.
Review of Report on Satpara Dam Project- Rapid Environmental Analysis and EMMP.
Suggestion for Updation on environmental flows and their monitoring, on report of Conditional approval of EIA by EPA-AJK to Neelum Jhelum 969 MW HEPP.
Suggestions/Comments regarding Green House Gas Emission Inventory of Pakistan for the Year 2007-08 to be submitted to UNFCCC by Global Change Impact Study Centre, Islamabad.
Suggestion/Comments National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2011-2015 in the wake of Climate Change.
3. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Processing
Contracts signed for Consultancy Services for Procurement of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) CERs for 17 Hydropower Projects.
Processing for hiring CDM Consultants for another above mentioned 17 Hydropower Project including Small & Medium Dams are in Progress.
Final Technical Proposals for these Projects completed by Standing Review Committee (SRC) and after approval the financial proposal will be opened for these projects.
4. Misc Assignments Completed
WAPDA Environment Cell facilitated Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on CDM studies which were held on 16 June 2011 in Besham regarding Allai Khwar Hydropower Project.
WAPDA Environment Cell facilitated and provided guidelines to Project Authority for the presentation of EIA of Dasu Hydropower Project to EPA-KPK.
WEC provide full cooperation and provide guidelines to the project authorities of Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project in the field of Environmental and social aspects of the project and getting NOC of EIA from EP-KPK.
WEC prepared a report on Biotic Environment of Khanpur Dam Project including existing Avian, Ichtyyofaunic, Mammalian species found in the Project Area. In Abiotic Factors Water Quality Parameters were dealt and recommendations were chalked out to delcare the reservoir as RAMSAR SAFE HEAVEN FOR WILDLIFE on visit of Chairman WAPDA to Khanpur Dam Project.
WEC gave valuable suggestion for updation on environmental flows and their monitoring, assessment severity of sewage before and after construction of treatment plants at 16 active points and cascading of Neelum River to enhance its beauty on Report of Conditional Environmental approval by EPA-AJK to Neelum-Jhelum 969 MW HEPP.