Issues and possibilities in state, voluntary organizations and business sector's synergy in environmental protection : a case study of Hudiara drain pollution problem in Lahore, Pakistan | |
| Author | Malik, Asghar Naeem |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.UE-02-09 |
| Subject(s) | Environmental protection--Pakistan Pollution prevention--Pakistan |
| Note | A thesis submitted in Partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Hudiara Drain has become a sink of untreated industrial waste and municipal sewage of Lahore city. It is degrading the environmental condition with every passing moment. Pakistan has very exhaustive environmental policies, rules and regulations along with line of corresponding departments for the enforcement of those policies. But, unluckily, the long-standing pollution problem of Hudiara Drain could not get the proper attention of the concerned quarters. In fact the Hudiara Drain pollution problem is of complex nature that calls for the interaction, coordination and synergy between the three key agents; the state, the civil society and the industries. This research study is an attempt to look into the sociopolitical dimensions that determine the inaction of government authorities, the civil society and the private polluters. The empirical study reveals that there is lack of interaction and synergy between the three key agents. The regulatory authorities never deemed it necessary to engage the civil society in the protection of the environment. The affected and vulnerable communities have never been informed about the pollution situation caused by the industries and its possible impacts on the environment and human health. Similarly there is absence of interaction between the communities and the nearby industries except the formal relation of being employers and the employees. The industrialists are alienated to the environmental protection issues and to the communities that are being affected by the pollution generate by them. It is happening partly because of unawareness of the industrialists about the environmental issues and partly because of the undue profit oriented mentality of the industrialists because they want to reduce the cost of production by not installing the treatment plants or keeping them, if they have, inoperative. The state departments also did not make any serious effort to engage the business sector in decision-making and implementation process. Similarly the civil society lacks in social capital that is a prerequisite for getting the problems solved faced by the community. Because of the work of an NGO named Ikhwane Islam, there can been found a society named " Veer" for community welfare activities for the inhabitants of the village. The Ikhwane Islam NGO also helped in creating awareness among the people and local political elites of the Hudiara village. But the people of Halloke Village are not much conscious about the water pollution of the drain and its impacts on the environment and on the human health. Because neither any NGO nor any concerned government agency ever tried to organize, empower the community and launch environmental awareness campaigns. The solution of the problem on permanent basis requires that the three key agents should play their role. The major responsibility lies on the shoulders of the local as well as international environmental NGOs. On one hand these NGOs have to launch environmental awareness campaigns in the effected communities, they have to organize and empower the communities so that communities themselves are able to protect their environment while on the other hand they also have to increase pressure on the government to make it active in environmental protection issues. Similarly the private business sector needs to be taken into confidence and included in decision-making and implementation process. |
| Year | 2003 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Sajor, Edsel E. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Amin, A. T. M. Nurul ;Satoh, Hiroyasu |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program ;AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2003 |