KARACHI, Nov 30: Participants of a public hearing on an environmental impacts report of a proposed exploratory well for the discovery of hydrocarbon in northeastern Sindh have expressed the view that improvement of human life quality, conservation of wildlife as well as an ambient environment in the area should be targeted.

The speakers, including government officials, researchers, environmentalists, media and NGO representatives, referred to the practices of oil and gas firms in the past and suggested that instead of succumbing to the pressure of public officials and tribal leaders or falling prey to the middlemen, the exploring companies should reach the local community.

Losses in the wake of any project should not only be assessed but substantial works should also be carried out for the benefit of the people after assessing their needs, they added.

The public hearing was organized by the Environmental Protection Agency, Sindh, on Saturday to discuss the environmental impacts assessment report (EIA) in regard to the proposed drilling of Rehan-1 explanatory well in the Mubarak block in Ghotki district. The Petronas Carigali (Pakistan) has already drilled two wells in the block, which falls in the Nara Desert Wildlife Sanctuary.

The well is to be located in deh Sutaro, union council Lohi, about 37km south of Ghotki. The proposed drilling activity includes construction of access roads to the site, development of the well area, establishment and operation of the camp, excavation and testing, etc., besides well-capping for future production, if any, and site restoration.

The inhabitants of the project area depend on agriculture and livestock-rearing for their livelihoods. The EIA report suggested potential impacts of the project on the physical environment, air and water quality, vegetation, wildlife and socio-economic activities of the area people.

In response to queries, the representative of the proponent said that his firm was under obligation to provide US $ 20,000 per annum for carrying out different welfare and community projects in the area. He said during the exploration for hydrocarbons, which could last for 5 to 6 months beginning early next year, chances of employing local unskilled or semi-skilled people were very slim as they lacked training and drilling experiences, but in the production stage a number of local people could be engaged for different jobs.

He maintained that the firm had consulted with the local community and influential of the area in regard to the project and they were all supportive. “We have already spent money for providing health and educational facilities in the area,” he added.

The participants apprehended that wildlife, mobility of people, their health and area resources were highly threatened by the explorers and there should be a mechanism to pay compensation for it. “We should be realistic and the project should be aimed at betterment of the local people and development of their area, said the speakers and suggested that environmental monitors should be independent and hired from local universities instead of bringing them from abroad.

It was also said that payment to the local people should be made against consumption of water which would be required for the project and extracted from the area. Involvement of local NGOs was also stressed with the observation that they understood the local problems and feudal system as well.

Representatives of NGOs demanded improvement in women’s condition as part of the community programme. Employment of the local women in exploration and production of the project was also demanded.

The speakers said that in case of changes in the project activities, an approval should be sought from the EPA, Sindh. Referring to the wildlife status in the area, they said that attention should also be paid towards the rehabilitation of wildlife in the area.

A wildlife department official claimed that data regarding wildlife as provided in the EIA report was not correct while information collected by the project consultants was not shared with the department.

Keeping in view the shortage of water in the area, it was suggested that a pipeline should be drawn from Nara canal for the gas project. The proponents were also urged to review the proposed time schedule for implementation of the project to avoid any shift in the migration pattern of houbara bustards to the area.

The EPA director-general, Shafique Ahmad Khuso, said that the suggestions should be implemented by the proponents along with other recommendations as impact mitigation measures. He asked for the minimum utilization of local resources.

A representative of the Haigler Bailly, which prepared the EIA report, said that the overall responsibility for environmental report compliance would rest with the proponents which would, among other obligations, hire consultants to report about its implementation. Mitigation measures have been initiated to ensure that the residual impacts were within the acceptable limits, he added.

He said vegetation in about 20,000 square-mile would be disturbed due to the well-drilling, but a mechanism would be evolved to store the top soil separately at the well and camp sites which would be re-spread during the site restoration. He said that elaborate arrangements would also be made for the disposal of waste water and other material.

It was said that compensation would be paid to the community for the water extracted from aquifers in the shape of an uplift programme. Water would be extracted only from the deep, unconfined aquifers from a depth of 20m or more for the existing tubewells in the project area.