January 11, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 20, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

LAHORE, Jan 10: Around 400 more trees will be slain in the name of “development” as the Punjab government plans yet another underpass on city canal to re-establish the broken road link between New Garden Town and Muslim Town.

The Environment Impact Assessment Report prepared by Nespak, the designer of the project, however, says more than 300 trees will be cut down along the canal.

However, the count neither includes the plants that have girth below one foot nor the bushes.

Over 5,000 grown-up trees have already been axed during construction of eight underpasses and Thokar Niaz Baig interchange along the canal.

The estimated cost of the proposed project comprising a three-lane barrel with approach ramps is Rs428.18 million, to be completed in four months.

Earlier, ignoring protest of the area people, the government had in 2003 demolished a bridge (Lal Pul) that used to share traffic load on Ferozepur Road and PU bridges. It also caused problems for residents of localities as well as students of schools along both banks of the watercourse as they had to take a longer route to reach their destination(s).

The existing overhead pedestrian bridge will have to be relocated, while portions of a residential and a commercial building will also have to be demolished to make room for the underpass.

The construction is also likely to result in an increase in canal pollution as soil, leafs of felled trees and construction material will be dumped by the contractor into the water channel.

The area’s temperature as well as noise level will also go up, though for a short time, during the construction work, which will increase air pollution level. Besides, about 90 houses near the project area will also face approach road problem.

Dozens of electricity poles, telephone lines and water supply and sewerage pipes will have to be relocated, while motorists will also face the brunt of the closure of Canal Bank Road between New Campus and Ferozepur Road bridges. The traffic will have to be diverted to Wahdat Road and Garden Town’s Main Boulevard.

The EIA report has also suggested some measures to cut the environmental degradation to be caused by the project. These include: a) Appointment of an environment manger by the contractor during the construction activity; b) publicising alternate traffic routes and display of banners inviting public complaints regarding environmental issues; c) covering the site before digging and installing dewatering sets to pump out water during rains; d) compensating the loss of flora and proper landscaping; e) minimizing construction period avoiding unnecessary heaps of earth, besides covering power generators with soundproof canopies and installing dust scrubbers at asphalt and concrete plants.

It also suggested water sprinkling before sweepings and avoiding use of noise generating machinery during late hours, and piling the construction material in a way that it did not damage the greenbelt and surrounding environment.