The Effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment on Infrastructural Development Projects: Case of Chotiari Reservoir in Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

Being an agro-based economy, Pakistan depends mainly on fertile lands and Indus River irrigation systems. The extensive expansion and unsustainable growth in this sector is rapidly degrading ecosystem and environmental services, which leads to undermine the rural livelihoods. This research explores root causes of poor performance of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in this sector, taking the case of Chotiari water reservoir construction as an example. It further explores the outcomes of the unilateral decisions taken towards development projects which had led to the destruction of environmental services, biodiversity, fertile agricultural lands and sustenance of local population in the region. The aim of the article is to highlight inadequacies of EIA framework in the country and to recommend good governance practices to promote regional sustainability through such infrastructural projects. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jepsl.v1i2.5147 Journal of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka Vol.1(2) 2012 46-57