Asmara — A workshop focusing on construction works and their impact on the environment was conducted on April 13 at Embasoira Hotel here in the capital.

It was stressed that major and small projects as well as the design of master plans should not be implemented without undertaking proper study on the part of the Department of Environment.

At the workshop in which experts of construction, marine and environment biodiversity took part, it was disclosed that the construction of various infrastructure, including roads, micro-dams and the like short of assessing their environmental impact should be properly addressed, as they entail negative consequences to the ecology.

Emphasizing the need for fostering close coordination among the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment and regional administrations so as to ensure sound ecology, the participants of the workshop said that a control mechanism should be introduced to this end.

Speaking on the occasion, the director general of the Department of Environment, Mr. Mogos Woldeyohannes, said that despite the fact that construction works play a major role in the nation-building process, the implementation of projects without prior assessment their impact on the environment would entail negative consequences.