KARACHI, April 30 The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) on Friday asked the proponents of a commercial high-rise, which is partially occupied, on the seafront in Clifton to submit the approvals and NOCs accorded to it by the Karachi Building Control Authority within the next 10 days.

The builders were also asked to study the nature of vehicular traffic in the area and file a comprehensive report within 30 days that how a probable increase in traffic in the wake of the high-rise would be managed. Sepa also directed the builders to submit a hydrological study of the nearby sea area.

The directives were issued during a public hearing held by Sepa as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) proceedings on a court directive.

On Dec 2, 2009, the Sindh environmental protection tribunal had made it mandatory for the builders to submit an EIA report of the under-construction high-rise project to Sepa within two months for its approval. The deadline was, however, extended by the tribunal later.

The proponents and their environmental consultants told the participants of the public hearing on Friday that the project was served by road networks of the city district government of Karachi and the Defence Housing Authority. The people were told that the high-rise was already housing a good number of offices while work on a structure meant for shopping mall was in final stage.

A couple of participants as well as the director-general of Sepa anticipated traffic management problems once the four-tower commercial complex was in use. They said there would certainly be an increase in traffic volume on adjoining roads in the morning and evening hours.Since the project was located near the sea there was a need to know the nature and impact of tides and current, another participant remarked. Some other participants demanded details about the original status of the land, where the high-rise is being built, and its consequent uses during the last 40 years.

Sepa director-general Naeem A. Mughal chaired the proceedings of the public hearing, which was conducted by Sepa director Waqar H. Phulpoto and EIA cell official in charge Imran Sabir. Sindh secretary for environment and alternative energy also attended the hearing and made some remarks.

The commercial complex being built on an area of 37,666 square yards in KDA Scheme No-5 comprises four towers having between 17 and 40 storeys, including basements and parking floors.

Wastewater samples

During the public hearing, Sepa announced that a team of officers would be sent to sample the wastewater being discharged by the complex for analysis to know whether the discharge was in conformity with the national environmental quality standards or not.

Sepa would also write a letter to the KBCA to know the legal status of some ramps which had already been constructed in the building for parking, said a Sepa official.

According to an EIA report, the project's microenvironment comprises the sandy beach of Clifton on the front, the large Bagh-i-Qasim in the immediate vicinity and several residential complexes across the road from Karachi Port Trust installations to Sea View.

“The project's macro-environment comprises KPT property housing oil installations, a coal storage area and the Manora channel enclosing the harbour on the north and northwest, and a large number of architecturally, historically and archaeologically significant structures,” the EIA report said.

About tsunami threat, the report mentioned that the 1945 tsunami having a magnitude of 8.3 on Richter scale was the deadliest. The sea is 3.36 metres below the level of road and 2.7 metres below the average ground level at the complex site and Bagh Ibne Qasim in normal session. This suggested that a tsunami of magnitude similar to that of 1945 would affect 2.5-metre contour on the beachfront of the project site and Bagh Ibne Qasim, the report said. “The affect of tsunami and the sea level rise in the years to come can be mitigated with the construction of an adequately reinforced protection wall in front of the complex as well as the Bagh Ibne Qasim.”

Responding to some queries, the proponents led by Jabir Hussain said that the project's developers had acquired the land which was already meant for commercial use.

Although the complex would rely entirely on the KESC for power supply and the KWSB for the disposal of sewerage, it was an energy-efficient project, according to the proponents.

A plan for the accommodation of the vehicles in the complex had been ready, the proponents said.

The environmental impact of project activities was localized to the microenvironment and was of short duration, they claimed. There might not be any ecological impact, as the area was already inhabited by houses, apartments and commercial buildings, they said.