The Vice-President and head of the Department of Environment emphasized cooperation among government bodies, industry, local communities and NGOs, describing participation and specialist input as essential to managing Khuzestan's environmental challenges and improving HSE indicators.
According to Mehr News Agency, Shina Ansari met environmental activists and organizations in Khuzestan. Thanking participants for responsible engagement and expert concerns, she said the province's diverse industrial, oil, agricultural and ecological activities have created complex, accumulated environmental problems, some developed over many years.
Resolving these issues requires shared commitment, knowledge-based planning, legal compliance and sustained cooperation among responsible bodies. Universities, specialists, NGOs and local communities can improve decision quality and implementation effectiveness.
On environmental rangers, Ansari identified shortages of staff, personal equipment, operational vehicles and support resources as serious national challenges, particularly in geographically extensive provinces with many protected areas, including Khuzestan.
She said cooperation with the Administrative and Recruitment Organization and the Plan and Budget Organization had secured approval for approximately 700 additional Department of Environment staff annually. Phased implementation was expected to ease shortages, especially in protection and ranger functions.
Amendments to firearms-use legislation had passed specialist parliamentary committees and were ready for plenary consideration. She said the changes could strengthen legal protection, occupational security and operational capacity for rangers.
Education, information and awareness are fundamental to preventing environmental damage. Public participation and specialist organizations are indispensable to environmental protection, risk reduction and better HSE performance. NGO involvement in education, outreach and monitoring is therefore a Department priority.
Thorough environmental assessment of development projects
Addressing the shared Sohrab oilfield development, Ansari said the Department's objective is to ensure development follows environmental rules, risk management and HSE requirements through design, construction, operation and monitoring, rather than to block development.
Two well pads had previously been permitted. Further development and permits were made conditional on a substantial project review and a comprehensive, detailed and current environmental impact assessment (EIA). The report must address new technologies, local ecology, waste management, pollution control, water and soil protection and emergency response.
The facility siting permit was issued in 1401 (Solar Hijri). Over the preceding two years, multiple technical meetings and reviews had sought to strengthen environmental considerations and revise implementation requirements.
Environmental issues should inform projects from their earliest decisions, rather than only final permitting or after construction begins. Rigorous EIA, continuous monitoring, transparent reporting and implementing agencies' accountability are central to sustainable and responsible industrial development.
At the meeting's conclusion, Ansari honored the late Mojgan Sakhaei of the Khuzestan environmental directorate and fallen rangers, particularly Hedayatollah Didehban. She emphasized continuing constructive dialogue, describing NGO criticism, proposals and expertise as valuable resources for identifying problems, improving processes and developing practical environmental and HSE solutions.
Source links: www.mehrnews.com
Original publication date (Solar Hijri): 1405/06/04
Author: Dibagostaran Sanat