KARACHI: Japan wants EIA before funding bridges project
KARACHI, April 29: The Japan government has asked the City District Government of Karachi to fulfil the prerequisite condition of an Environmental Impact Assessment to get a Rs2.55 billion soft loan for the construction of five steel bridges at various locations in the metropolis.
Well-placed sources in the government told PPI that the Japan Bank of International Cooperation’s representatives had completed the feasibility of the project and agreed to lend 85 per cent of the total cost of five steel bridges to be built in the first phase. Remaining 15 per cent expenses to be incurred on the construction of steel bridges would be borne by the city government. The total cost of the first phase had been estimated at Rs3 billion, the sources added.
They said the loan would be repayable in easy instalments with a 0.4 per cent interest. The first phase of the project was expected to be completed in nine months after the start of work, as the bridges would be imported from Japan and assembled here. However, the supporting structure of the bridges would be built indigenously, they added.
The city government has given an undertaking to the JBIC representative of getting an EIA done before signing the agreement.
Sources in the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency, however, said three to six months would be required for the Environmental Impact Assessment.
According to the plan, steel bridges in the first phase of the project would be built at Shafiq Mor, Fazal Mills intersection in North Karachi Town, Ghani Chowrangi and Habib Bank in SITE, and Dowood Chowrangi in Landhi Town.
The EDO of the Transport and Communication department, Muhammad Athar, said the PC-I of the first phase of steel bridges completed by the city government had been sent to the provincial planning department for approval.
After the approval, PC-I would also be sent to the Federal Planning Commission, the Central Development Working Committee and the National Economic Council for further approval, he added.
The EDO said the city government had assured the JBIC’s representatives that after the approval of PC-I, a no-objection certificate of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency would be got and all government rules would be followed.
Only at Dawood Chowrangi, he said, some private property would be affected with the bridge construction but other four steel bridges would not affect anyone.
According to the Environmental Protection Act 1997, the Environmental Impact Assessment should be done for every project of above Rs500 million and no work could be started unless an NOC is sought from the Sepa.—PPI
