Environmental Protection Society (EPS) was founded in 1991 and registered in 1994 under the Societies Act, 1860. It has a General Body and a Council of nine members represented by the Chairman. The Management Committee provides support to the EPS management. A total of fourty-nine staff runs the day-to-day affaires of the Society and its projects. The mission of EPS is to address issues of poverty and environmental degradation in Malakand Division through research, advocacy, awareness raising, social mobilization, human and institutional development and services delivery by adopting a conflict-free and culturally viable approach with a blend of professionalism and voluntary zeal. Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (PCP) has accredited the Society and United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has given EPS special consultative status.

It has carried out a number of initiatives for natural resource management in collaboration with national and international organizations and also from its own resources. Social organization of communities is a distinction of the Society since 1997 when it worked with Geneva University and with UNDP GEF/SGP (1998-2002). Based upon the findings of these studies EPS was successful to implement the sanitation schemes at Chalyar, Banr, Shagai and Amankot on participatory basis with the support of TVO and the GoP.

The Society trained activists for seven years in partnership with CHIP and has maintained the tempo of need-based trainings. In 2002 EPS started Social Organization in the district of Swat for MRDP and implemented more than 300 schemes in more than hundred villages.

EPS is in agreement with Innovation for Poverty Reduction Project (IPRP) for carrying out action research on Medicinal Plants in Rodingar Valley and with SGP PTF for carrying out activities for conservation of the forest resources of Elum Valley, both in Swat. Recently EPS has signed an agreement with South Asia Partnership (SAP) Pakistan for the democratic rights of the people and training of the elected representatives specially peasant, workers, minority and women councilors. EPS has a good reputation and working relation with the government, NGOs, private sector and community organizations. Every year EPS organizes CBOs conference for experience sharing and linkages development and other events of national and international significance. This year?s theme of the World Environment Day was ?Green Cities ? Plan for future? on which EPS organized a grand activity for school children and other stakeholders.

The management and the volunteers of the Society are always involved in the projects undertaken by EPS on set terms of reference and they have the capacity and expertise for the proposed project.

Justification for Support - Linkages with GEF Themes and
Operational Programmes

The study carried out during River Swat Conservation Project (RSCP) by EPS in collaboration with UNDP-SGP revealed that major threats to the freshwater resources are pollution, encroachment and illegal fishing. The pollution survey of River Swat conducted by the project showed that the issue of pollution starts from the source at Kalam but intensifies near Mingora. The coliform count at the point where pollution from Mingora is added to the stream is 1800/ml. Other parameters of pollution in the river are also well above the acceptable limits as shown in the table given below.

S.# Place Reference DO mg/l BOD mg/l COD mg/l NO3+N mg/l NO2+N mg/l NH3+N mg/l S mg/l SO4 mg/l PO4mg/l Cl mg/l
1. Peshmal Up-Stream area 9.6 2.80 15.0 1.80 1.801 2.80 1.76 76.5 1.57 14.9
2. Kuladher Mingora Stream 5.9 6.94 45.0 1.6 12.09 11.6 12.3 330 10.2 21.8
3. Punjgram Mingora stream joins the river 7.0 11.6 25.0 0.60 2.478 0.94 0.7 89.1 12.7 10.90`
4. Pul Chaukai Down Stream Area 7.1 5.86 12.0 0.7 3.565 5.86 0.9 96.8 10.4 10.9

EPS under River Swat Conservation Project conducted a research study for the rehabilitation of Mingora Stream. This study revealed that due to excessive pollution the stream has not only lost the characteristics of being breeding and feeding site for some of the short-range migratory fishes but is a cause of water born diseases, too. Each day 43.20 tones human excreta from 20,000 households and 40 hotels is disposed off to Mingora Stream. More than 35 cosmetic factories, many marble industries, service stations and automobile workshops also add chemicals to the stream. As a result of this study EPS conceived a grand sanitation master plan (see enclosure I) for the city to control pollution in Mingora Stream, which will lead to clean city and cleaner River Swat if implemented.

Besides liquid waste, 62.7 tone of solid waste is also generated in the city each day. The TMA Swat carries the waste into the nearby area of Dangram and disposes it openly without recycling and other treatments. Due to poor operation and management system more than 50% of the waste generated in the city gets its way into Mingora Stream and River Swat. Although management of solid waste in an effective scientific way is an income generation activity but in the existing situation it is a serious threat to both the city as well as fresh water resources. Moreover, EPS examined the quality of potable water in the city. The laboratory tests revealed that the minimum count of E. coli found in the sample of potable water was 45 per ml which is much above the WHO standards of 10 E. coli / ml.

Revision of Mingora Sanitation Scheme according to current standards and requirements, advocacy campaign with local government for funds allocation, building the capacity of TMA to negotiate with the private firm for solid waste management. On the basis of the revised sanitation scheme the role of the stakeholders (donor agencies, different tiers of the government and the communities) will be defined and negotiated with them.

EPS has good working relations with different tiers of government and has signed an MoU with the TMA Swat and all the nine union councils of the city. For infrastructure development to control water pollution UNDP will facilitate EPS to establish link with Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and other potential donors.

The GEF resources will be used for the activities and facilitation of the activities of the proposed project. The project will pave way for the implementation of Mingora Sanitation Scheme and solid waste management that will ultimately contribute to reduce pollution in the freshwater and minimize waterborne diseases. This will, in turn, lead to clean city and better tourism in the valley.

Context/Baseline

The Wastewater disposed off to the river affects its water quality. No proper waste management system is present in the city. The pollution level increases day by day, which needs serious measures for control. Illegal fishing through dynamiting, poisoning and electrocution has caused the destruction of the aquatic life. Each household spends an approximate average of Rs. 1,500 to 3,500 each year on water born diseases. Although provision of sanitation facility is their top priority but due to lack of advocacy and capacity at government level they are unable to get rid of the rapidly increasing problems.

The city of Mingora comprises of nine Union Councils. The population of Mingora has increased from about 36,000 to more than 174,000 since 1970. It has now crossed the 200,000 mark during 2004 .

EPS has prepared detailed Sanitation for the whole of the city in collaboration with TMA, Swat. The Sanitation Plan was presented to the stakeholders in a one-day workshop. The liquid waste (4,144,056 gallons) that flows daily into the streams have the following effects.

Effect on health

In the city 43.20 tones of human excreta is disposed into the water bodies each day. The water supply pipelines lie in open drains, contaminating piped water. The waste is thrown into the open drains, streets or open plots. Waste from hospitals is also not properly taken care of. These practices spread many types of diseases and create bad smell in the city.

Aesthetic effect of stream
The streams traversing the city were once the sites of recreation and fishing for the local people and provided scenic beauty to the passerby. Within the city of 175,000 inhabitants only 4% people enjoy active recreational facilities.

Effect on aquatic life
There are twenty five species of fishes in the waters of Swat, one of which (Tryplophysa niziri) is not found in the whole Indus Rivers System and another one (Schistura nasseri) is found only in Swat and Hazara6. Many fish species migrate from the river to streams for feeding and breeding purposes. The pollution of the Mingora Stream has reached such a level that the short-range migratory fishes can no more come for feeding and breeding, it may rightly be called the dead stream.

Project Objectives and Proposed Activities

The overall goal of the project is ?to protect the freshwater ecosystem of Swat, Pakistan? and the objectives are;
· To revise and phase-out Mingora Sanitation Scheme according to current standards and requirements
· To launch advocacy campaign and mobilize the TMA Swat, donor agencies and Provincial Government for the implementation of Mingora Sanitation Scheme
· To facilitate public private partnership for solid waste management in the city
· To enhance capacity of the community organizations and local government for the protection of freshwater ecosystem

The outputs of the project are given below.
1. Mingora Sanitation Scheme revised and phased-out for initiating physical works
2. TMA Swat allocated 20% of its ADB for sanitation work in the scheme
3. Public-Private partnership for solid waste management facilitated
4. Baseline data about the quality of freshwater resources updated and documented
5. Capacity of the TMA Swat enhanced through involving them in revision, phasing and execution of Mingora Sanitation Scheme and solid waste management
6. Capacity of the organized groups enhanced through trainings and workshops. Household level financial contribution in the city for sewer line to be laid in the streets initiated
7. Donor agencies and provincial government mobilized for their role in the scheme
8. Public Forum for information sharing and accountability in placed and functional

To achieve the outputs a number of activities will be carried out in close collaboration and coordination with the stakeholders. The initial intervention will be the inception workshop, followed by participatory yearly operational plan. Regular monitoring, mid-term review workshop and final external evaluation will also form part of the project. The details of the proposed activities are given below. All these activities will be carried out in consultation and with the active involvement of the TMA Swat, the union councils of the city and other stakeholders

1. Revision and Phasing for implementation of the scheme
1.1 Prepare satellite image of Mingora at one meter resolution and revise the scheme accordingly
1.2 Take levels at required points along the proposed sewer lines
1.3 Prepare a detailed revised sanitation plan
1.4 Phase out the plan in consultation with the TMA, Union Councils, technical experts and community activists
1.5 Define the role of the stakeholders (donor agencies, different tiers of government and the communities)

2. Advocacy campaign
2.1 Individual and collective meetings with Tehsil Nazim and the nine naib nazims to honor the MoU signed by the TMA with EPS to allocate 20% fund from the ADB for the implementation of Mingora Sanitation Scheme and take initiatives for proper solid waste management exercise in the city
2.2 Establish linkages with donors, projects supporting the infrastructure development for sanitation
2.3 Mobilize the stakeholders to allocate funds for implementation of the scheme

3. Public private partnership for solid waste management
3.1 Study and visit three successful solid waste management models in the country
3.2 Motivate the TMA Swat to pay visit to the organization/firm and hold meeting with them for solid waste management
3.3 Facilitate the TMA Swat to design an agreement for solid waste management to be signed by TMA, the organization working in solid waste management and EPS
3.4 Monitor the activity of solid waste management on periodic basis to ensure the scientific treatment of solid waste generated in the city

4. Capacity Building
4.1 Build the capacity of TMA in bye-laws preparation and contract development and management
4.2 Enhance capacity of the TMA to develop planning guidelines for the protection of freshwater ecosystem
4.3 Impart training to the community organizations in project planning and management

5. Strategy for awareness raising

5.1. Develop posters that contain messages about the importance of freshwater resources and clean environment
5.2. Establish public forum for information dissemination and accountability of the project

6. Periodic surveys of the streams and river Swat for pollution by involving students from the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar and other Universities

5. Project Strategy

The primary stakeholders, especially the TMA Swat, Public Health Engineering Department Swat and the community organizations (both male and female) in Mingora City will be involved through out the project. Planning capacity of the TMA and PHED Swat will be strengthened by involving them in revision, phasing and execution of Mingora Sanitation Scheme and solid waste management. The community organizations will be trained in project planning and management to enable them to mobilize resources for and manage the sanitation scheme. Moreover, to ensure accountability and strengthen linkages among the community organizations, the TMA and the PHED, a public forum will be formed to meet quarterly and review progress of the project.

UNDP GEF will facilitate to link the EPS with donors for infrastructure development.

5.1. Revision and phasing of Mingora Sanitation Scheme
EPS has designed Mingora sanitation Scheme in 1999. Under the proposed project the scheme will be revised according to current standards and requirements. For this purpose services of SUPARCO Pakistan will be hired to prepare satellite image of the city at 2.5 meter resolutions. Similarly Technical Unit of EPS will take levels at all the required points along the proposed sever lines. In light of the satellite image and levels the scheme will be revised in consultation with TMA and/or PHED Swat, TU-EPS and consultants. After revision the scheme will be phased out in a way to be technically correct and the local government and community agree with it. The role of the stakeholders will be defined for implementation of various components of the scheme.

5.2. Advocacy Campaign
Environmental Protection Society (EPS) has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the previous elected administration of TMA Swat for allocation of 20% funds from its ADB for sanitation work in Mingora. EPS under the proposed project will further accelerate advocacy campaign and hold individual as well as collective meetings with the elected members of the city to sensitize them about the sanitation scheme. The naib nazims of the city will be convinced to honor the MoU and allocate the first annual installment (20% of ADB) at an appropriate time. EPS has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Swat that they will actively participate in revision and phasing of Mingora Sanitation Scheme and if sanitation works were switched over to PHED, they will request the provincial as well as district government to earmark 20% of developmental funds specified for sanitation works in the city for the scheme. Similarly other tiers of the government will also be motivated to support the agreed upon project components.

5.3. Solid waste management
The proposed project will facilitate the establishment of public private partnership for solid waste management. EPS, TMA Swat and the private firm expert in solid waste management will enter into agreement. The firm will be responsible to collect solid waste from the whole city and treat it scientifically in a way that by the end of the project it becomes a self-sustainable activity.

5.4. Gender Involvement Strategy
After the allocation of funds by TMA Swat the project will also launch awareness campaign to bring transparency in the project. The strategy for gender involvement comprises the following activities

5.4.1. Public Forum
Male and female activists, Ulemas and the elected members (male and females) of the area will be mobilized to form a public forum for the protection of freshwater ecosystem.

5.4.2. Gender Involvement
The Public Forum formed will be the entry points for the involvement of the women of the area for boosting up the drive of pollution control and protection of freshwater ecosystem and its components. The women will also be involved in training, which will lead to entrepreneurship development through linkages with relevant agencies.

5.5. Awareness raising and Capacity Building
5.5.1. Training of TMA and organized groups
5.5.2. Three persons will be trained in bye-laws development and five in planning guidelines for the protection of freshwater ecosystem. Moreover, twenty activist will be trained in project planning and management. Exposure visits
of ten days for 25 persons will be organized to TMA areas with successful solid waste management models.

5.6. Linkages development and support from network
5.6.1. Co-ordination and networking
Effective co-ordination and networking will be developed with the stakeholders. In this connection steps have already been taken by EPS by taking the District Government and other stakeholders into confidence. Whereas, co-ordination with TMA Swat, the union councils of the city and PHED Swat has already been established. EPS will also act as umbrella for the community organizations of the city to link them with support agencies.
5.6.2. Consultation with stakeholders
The process has already been started and steps for consultation in the form of meetings, presentation of the plan and workshop on the implementation of the plan have already been carried out.
5.6.3. Dialogues, workshops and seminars
Local level dialogues and seminars will be organised for awareness raising and information dissemination/sharing through the project team involving government (local as well as provincial), line departments, NGOs, commercial and private parties.

The key stakeholders of the project are the communities of the Mingora City, nine UCs, Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) Tehsil Swat, District Council, G.P.G. Jahanzeb College (Swat), Govt Girls College Swat, Universities, NGOs/CBOs, projects (like PPAF, TVO, CIP-II, GTZ, WSSP, MRDP, PPIAF) JICA, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Traders Union, Hotel Association, SUPARCO, private firms and individuals. Government departments will provide technical and legal inputs to the project where required. District and Tehsil governments will be involved as part of the project. Union Councils will be involved in the planning and implementation of the activities at the local area. They will also be motivated to encourage the formation of Citizen Community Boards (CCBs) for infrastructure development in the area. Local NGOs/CBOs, other NGOs (local as well as national and international) will be linked with the project. Educational institutions will be involved in the research activities through student interns. Women will also be involved in the activities within the local social dynamics.

The available human and institutional support will be extended to the project team during the project duration. This will include facilitation in organizing workshops and dialogues, trainings; linkages development with the stakeholders and monitoring the results of the project.

6. Technical Feasibility

The participatory approach for natural resource conservation and community development is tried by EPS in most of its projects undertaken during the last ten years. Social mobilization, organizations and capacity building are the distinction of EPS in the Malakand region. EPS Technical Unit in collaboration with its projects, municipality and communities have already completed schemes of sanitation and solid waste management. The technical feasibility of the proposed project has already been discussed with technical persons from different sectors, both local as well as national.
There are a number of Community based organizations and NGOs working in the project area. Linkages and experience sharing with existing CBOs/NGOs need improvement. For technical supports on issues of immediate concern the staff and Council members of EPS can address to most of the issues. SUPARCO will provide satellite images of the proposed area and will develop the capacity of EPS in this sector.
The proposed project concept has already been discussed with TMA, UCs of the proposed project area and GEF SGP before it is submitted. They have agreed with the concept and have assured EPS of co-operation. Furthermore, there are no major disputes in the area to hinder the activities of the project.

Anticipated Results

The activities planned under the project will have certain results, which will lead to the implementation of the Sanitation System in Mingora. The construction of the system will have deep-rooted impacts on the protection of freshwater ecosystem, water born diseases, general environment of the city and economic activities of the area.

Impact through strengthened TMA and community organizations
The TMA will be capacitated to develop bye-laws for solid waste management and to manage the urban area in context of solid and liquid waste. The organizations of the city will be brought under a common umbrella for protection of the freshwater ecosystem. This will also enable them to persuade donors for physical works in the city for the scheme.

Impact on water and air
The components of the project supported by GEF SGP will pave the way to substantially reduce water pollution in the stream and river Swat. The overall impact will be a step towards biodiversity conservation, reduction of water born diseases, improvement of tourism leading to better economic activities in the region.

Learning and scaling up
The research findings, revision of the scheme, advocacy and capacity building steps will need active involvement and facilitation of GEF SGP for linkages development with suitable donors for implementation of sanitation system in Mingora. At the end of the infrastructure development in Mingora the diverse learning experiences will form basis for scaling up and replication with modification in other similar areas.

There are no major risks, social political and departmental in the area to adversely affect the activities of the proposed project. The potential government organs like TMA and PHED have each signed Memoranda of Understanding with EPS for supporting its activities for Mingora Sanitation Scheme and Solid Waste Management (the required documents are attached). Our previous interventions in this connection are worth mentioning, which were successfully carried out during 1998 till 2002 in collaboration with UNDP GEF SGP.