KARACHI, May 20: Stakeholders at a public hearing on Tuesday said that it was high time the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) realized the threats posed to the natural and socio-economic environment due to discharges and emissions from various industrial units and ship movements in its zone and took necessary measures on a priority basis.A couple of speakers were of the view that the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) should also stop giving environmental clearance to development projects in the Port Qasim zone till the time a cumulative impact of the vast commercial activities within the port’s jurisdiction on the environment, lives of the communities, coastal and marine ecosystem and wildlife was determined.
The hearing was held with Sepa Director-General Ali Ahmad Lund in the chair at the auditorium of Federation House to consider an environmental impact assessment report submitted in order to set up a grain and fertilizer terminal in the Port Qasim area.
The terminal – at a cost of about $78 million – was proposed for handling and transportation of grains, oilseeds, fertilizer and rice, with combined tonnage of about four million tonnes per year. It would be built on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis and would be transferred to the PQA on completion of the agreement period of 30 years, said a project report.
Port Qasim, built in the Korangi Creek area in the 1970s, is now the country’s second largest port surrounded by a vast industrial zone measuring 11,000 acres.
Besides the oil spill problem and deterioration of sea-water quality, conservationists felt that thermal pollution and unchecked dumping of untreated industrial waste was also adding to the severity of the situation.
Responding to the public’s apprehensions, Sepa Director Naeem A. Mughal said the agency had repeatedly pointed out its environmental concerns to the PQA and called for having not only the assessment of the reclamation of the sea for various projects done, but also to have an overall strategic environmental assessment, encompassing dust emissions from different installations, impact of chemical industries projects and prevailing pollution situation in the port vicinity done, but failed to get any response.
PQA personnel absent
“Port Qasim has not been able to construct a waste water treatment plant or develop a deep sea waste disposal system,” Mr Mughal claimed, regretting that none of the PQA personnel were even able to attend the public hearing relating to a major project within their jurisdiction.
Referring to the project in question, one of the participants observed that in a situation where excavation activities had already polluted the port environment, the project’s proponents should ensure spillage-free handling of grains and fertilizers, restrict emissions from generators and take all other measures to make the commercial activity environmentally sustainable.
Another participant said communities in the PQA industrial zone were already facing frequent dust emissions. A Sindh government wildlife department official reminded the proponents that there were possibilities of adverse impacts on wildlife sanctuaries as well and therefore, they should remain watchful and care for repairing the damage if any occurs in the future.
About the terrestrial ecology, it was said that construction activities of the fertilizer and grain terminal would definitely remove some sparse vegetation in the coastal land, but there would be limited impact on the habitat of birds and other animals, which, according to the project personnel, have already migrated to areas to the east of the project site.
“The reclamation process during the construction phase will disturb the sparse shrubs and mangroves near the water line, but the negative impact will be small and localized with minimal disturbance to the plant and animal habitat in the area,” it was further said, with a reiteration that the proponents would ensure replanting of five new mangroves against the loss of every one.
“Dredged material will be used in reclamation and waste will be disposed of in the areas designated by the PQA. Similarly, spoils from the piling work will be disposed outside the channel and in areas designated by the PQA,” the participants were further informed.
Traffic congestion
At one stage, the proponents admitted that vehicular traffic movement to and from the port area would increase during the construction as well as operational phases and as such, traffic congestion may take place on the existing road network, bringing consequential impacts on the physical environment.
The proponents, however, added that efforts were also on to maximize the use of rail transportation after the project entered the operational phase.
Following concerns over the utilities required for the project, the proponents clarified that the PQA had promised to get them electricity, but in case of non-realization or interrupted power supply, they would acquire an eight to 10 megawatts power generation system, which would be run either by gas or diesel.
“We are committed to a clean environment and hazard mitigation measures and would not allow anything to happen that would (damage) the surrounding environment and air quality at any cost. The development of the project in question will be compatible with the requirements of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, and Port Qasim Authority Act, 1973,” the representatives of the proponent concluded.
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