PURPOSE OF CHECKLIST:

The Azad Jammu & Kashmir Environmental Protection Act, 2000 provide for the Protection, Conservation,
Rehabilitation and Improvement of the environment and for the Prevention and Control of Pollution and Promotion of
Sustainable Development:

To ensure and promote the environmentally sustainable development in AJ&K the Environmental Protection Agency
requests all Public and sector departments, autonomous and semiautonomous, corporations and individuals to consider
the environmental impacts of a proposed project at pre-feasibility, feasibility and planning phases before making
decisions.

In Accordance with the provisions Azad Jammu & Kashmir Environmental Protection Act 2000 and Rules &
Regulations made thereunder before the commencement of construction or operation the Proponent of the Project shall
file with the Agency, the AJK-EPA, an Environmental Impact State (EIS) either in form of Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE) or where the project is likely to cause an adverse environmental effect, an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA);

The purpose of this screening checklist is to provide information to assist the proponent and Government of AJ&K,
identify impacts of a proposal and to take adequate and practical measures to mitigate any adverse environmental
effect that may result from the proposal. This Checklist will also help the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Environmental
Protection Agency to decide whether the project is of Category-I, Category-II or Category-III project. The Category-I
and Category-II shall require IEE and EIA respectively to be filed with the Agency by the proponent while the projects
that come under Category-III shall require either IEE or EIA and declaration about this will be made by the AJK-EPA,
after analyzing the Environmental Checklist.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPONENT/APPLICANT:

The Environmental Screening Checklist asks you to provide some general information, proposal/project’s descriptions
in brief and describe some basic information about existing environmental (physical, ecological, socio-cultural and
economic) settings of proposal/project’s site and its immediate vicinity.

This checklist is to be completed with the assistance of an Environment Specialist.

The AJK-EPA will use this checklist to determine whether the environmental impacts of the proposal are significant;
require preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report or Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
Report, in case the proposal carries less detrimental effect for the existing environmental settings of the area.

All answers must be brief, with the most precise information known, or best description.

You must answer each question, to the best of your knowledge, accurately, carefully and with great deal of honesty. In
most cases, you should be able to answer the questions from your own source, observation or project plans without the
need to hire the expert. If a question does not apply to your proposal, write ‘‘Not Applicable’’.

The Checklist questions apply to all parts of your proposal, even if you plan to do them over a period of time or on
different parcels of land. Attach any additional information that will help describe your proposal or its environmental
effects. The Environmental Protection Agency, AJK-EPA, to which must this checklist be submitted, may ask you to
explain your answers or provide additional information reasonably related to determining if there may be significant
adverse environmental impacts.

Thank you very much indeed.

(EIA Section, AJK-EPA)

AJK-EPA ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING CHECKLIST Page 1

 GOVERNMENT OF AZAD JAMMU&KASHMIR
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY
(AJK-EPA)
MUZAFFARABAD
EINVIRONMENTAL SCREENING CHECKLIST
To be incorporated at Planning Phase of the Proposal

1. GENERAL INFORMATIONS

PROJECT TITLE:

NAME & ADDERESS OF PROPONENT:

ADDRESSS & PHONE NUMBER OF CONTACT PERSON:

DATE CHECKLIST PREPARED:

TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT:

LOCATION OF THE PROJECT:

IF THE PROJECT HAS FUTURE PLANS OF ADDITION,
EXPANSION etc.

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Furnish details in brief sufficient to make the picture clear for
preliminary Environmental Evaluation of the Program/Project:

i. Type of project:

ii. Category of Project:

iii. Need for project:

iv. Location, Layout/Site Plan (use maps and

drawings showing general & specific locations,
layout/site plan, vicinity map &topographic map):

v. Size or magnitude of operation:

vi. Is project design modifications/alternatives

exist'?

vii. Proposed schedule for implementation:

viii. Land Use;

 Current Land Use classification?
 Current use of the site and adjacent properties?
 Any structure(s) on site?

AJK-EPA ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING CHECKLIST Page 2

  Structure(s) that will demolished during the
implementation of this proposal.
 Any part of the site, which has been classified as
‘’environmentally sensitive’’ areas?
 Approximate number of the people the completed
project would displace?
 Proposed measures to ensure the proposal is
compatible with surrounding land uses and plans. If
any?

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT:

Furnish a brief but clear picture of the existing environmental
resources in the area affected by the project, including the following
(to the extent applicable):

i. TOPOGRAPHY OF SOIL
ii. ATMOSPHERE
iii. SURFACE WATER
I. PHYSICAL RESOURCES: iv. GROUND WATER
v. WATER RUNOFF (Storm water)
vi. NOISE
vii. GEOLOGY/SEISMOLOGY

Questions to be Considered Yes / No /. Briefly describe

 The project site is Flat, Rolling, Hilly, Steep slopes, Mountains,
others.
 What general type of soils is found on the site; (e.g. clay, sand,
gravel, peat, mulch etc.)? Specify if the soil is of agricultural
importance.
 Could erosion will occur as a result of clearing, construction or
use. Proposed measures to reduce or control erosion, or other
impacts to the earth, if any.
 What type of emissions (i.e. dust, automobile, odours, industrial,
wood smoke etc.) to the air would result from the proposed
project during the implementation and decommissioning.
 Is there any surface body on or in the immediate vicinity of the
site (including year-round and seasonal streams, saltwater, lakes,
ponds, wetlands)? If yes describe type and provide names. If
appropriate what stream or river it flows into.
 Will the project require any work over, or adjacent to the
described waters? If yes, please describe and attach available
plan.
 Estimate the amount of fill and dredge material that would be
placed in or removed from surface water or wetlands and
indicate the area of the site that would be affected. Indicate the
source of fill material.
 Will the proposal requires surface water withdrawals or
diversions? Give general description, purpose and approximate
quantities if known.
 Does the proposal involve any discharge of waste materials to
surface waters? If yes describe the type of waste and anticipated
volumes of discharge.
 Will ground water will be withdrawn, or will water be discharged
to ground water? Give general description, purpose and
approximate quantities if known.
 Describe the waste material that will be discharged into the
ground from septic tanks or other sources, if any (e.g. domestic
sewage, industrial: containing the harmful chemicals, pesticides,
herbicides, etc.)

Questions to be Considered Yes / No /. Briefly describe

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 Describe the source of runoff (including storm water) and
method of collection and disposal, if any, (including quantities, if
known). Where will this water flow? Will this water flow into
other waters? If so describe.
 Proposed measures to reduce or control surface, ground and
runoff water impacts, if any, attach typewritten response.
 What types of levels of noises would be created by or associated
with the project on a short-term or long-term basis (e.g. traffic,
construction operation or others)? Mention the measures, if any,
proposed to reduce or control noise impacts.
 Are there surface indications or history of unstable soils at
project site or in the immediate vicinity?
 Is the project location susceptible to earthquakes, subsidence,
landslides, erosion, flooding or extreme or adverse climatic
conditions e.g. temperature inversions, fogs, severe winds, which
could cause the project to present environmental problems?
i. FLORA & FAUNA
ii. FORESTS
iii. FISHRIES
II. ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES: iv. WILDLIFE
v. RARE OR ENDANGERED SPECIES
vi. PROTECTED AREAS
 Are there any other areas on or around the location which are
important or sensitive for reasons of their ecology e.g. wetlands,
watercourses or other water bodies, mountains, forests or
woodlands, which could be affected by the project?
 Are there any areas on or around the location which are used by
protected, important or sensitive species of fauna or flora e.g. for
breeding, nesting, foraging, resting, over wintering, migration,
which could be affected by the project?
 Are there any areas on or around the location which contain
important, high quality or scarce resources e.g. forestry,
fisheries, rare or endangered species of flora or fauna, which
could be affected by the project?
 Are there any areas on or around the location which are
protected under international or national or local legislation for
their ecological, landscape, cultural or other value, which could
be affected by the project?
 What kind of and amount of vegetation will be removed or
altered?
 Proposed landscaping, use of native plants, or other measures to
preserve or enhance vegetation on the site, if any.
i. INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES (e.g. water supply, sewerage,
flood control)
ii. TRANSPORTATION (roads, highways, public streets, airports,
and navigation)
III. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: iii. POWER, ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
iv. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
v. MINERAL DEVELOPMENT &
vi. TOURISM FACILITIES
 Are there any transport routes on or around the location which
are susceptible to congestion or which cause environmental
problems, which could be affected by the project?
 Will the proposal require any new roads or streets, or
improvements to existing roads and streets?
 Are there existing land uses on or around the location e.g.
homes, gardens, other private property, industry, commerce,
recreation, public open space, community facilities, agriculture,
forestry, tourism, mining or quarrying which could be affected by
the project?

Questions to be Considered Yes / No /. Briefly describe

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 What kinds of energy (electric, LPG, oil, wood stove, solar) will be
used to meet the completed project’s needs? Mention what
kinds of energy conservation features are included in the plans of
this proposal?
 Will construction or operation of the Project use natural
resources such as land, water, materials or energy, especially any
resources, which are non-renewable or in short supply?
 Are there any routes or facilities on or around the location which
are used by the public for access to recreation or other facilities,
which could be affected by the project?
 Are there any areas on or around the location which contain
important, high quality or scarce resources e.g. agriculture,
tourism facilities, minerals etc., which could be affected by the
project?
i. POPULATION & COMMUNITIES (e.g. numbers, locations,
composition, employment)
ii. HEALTH, EDUCATION & RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
iii. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS (e.g. community structure,
family structure, social wellbeing)
IV. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES: iv. PUBLIC SERVICES & UTILITIES
v. AESTHETICS
vi. PHYSICAL OR CULTURAL HERITAGE
vii. STRUCTURES OR SITES THAT ARE OF HISTORICAL,
ARCHAEOLOGICAL, PALEONTOLOGICAL OR ARCHITECTURAL
SIGNIFICANCE
 Will the Project result in social changes, for example, in
demography, traditional lifestyles, employment?
 Are there any areas on or around the location which are densely
populated or built-up, which could be affected by the project?
 Are there any areas on or around the location which is occupied
by sensitive land uses e.g. hospitals, schools, places of worship,
community facilities, which could be affected by the project?
 What designated and informal recreational opportunities are in
the immediate vicinity of the proposed project and subject to
altered or displaced by the proposal?
 Would the project result in an increased need for public services
(e.g. health care facilities, schools, transportation, fire protection,
police protection). Mention the measures, if any, proposed to
control or reduce the direct impacts on public services.
 Are the basic utilities like; electricity, water, refuses service,
telephone, sanitary sewer, septic tanks are available to the
people at site or in immediate vicinity?
Mention that the utilities proposed for the project will improve
the existing system of utilities or will result in contrary to this.
 Are there any areas or features of high landscape or scenic value
on or around the location, which could be affected by the
project?
 Are there any areas or features of historic or cultural importance
on or around the location which could be affected by the
project?
 Are there any environmental health hazards, including exposure
to toxic chemicals, risk of fire and explosion, spill or hazardous
waste that could occur as result of this proposal?
 Will there be any risk of accidents during construction or
operation of the Project, which could affect human health or the
environment?

SIGNATURE: ____________________

DATE OF SUBMISSION:_____________________

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