QUETTA: Raising environmental concerns, a former speaker of the Balochistan Assembly has cautioned against moving ahead with the proposed coal-fired power plant project in Gadani.

Mohammad Aslam Bhootani through a letter urged the Hub Power Company Limited (Hubco) and the Chinese government not to undertake the project.

In the letter addressed to the management of Hubco with a copy sent to the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, he said: “Globally, it has been established through authentic, scientific and environmental studies that coal emissions are detrimental to human life and life of any kind in general.”

Read: Lukewarm response to Gadani power projects

Different studies carried out on coal-fired power projects suggest that the cost of medical treatment of people afflicted by diseases caused by coal emission exceeds the saving estimated to be made by such ventures. Coal emission also adversely affects the health of birds, animals and the fish.

Mr Bhootani said that impact of coal emission from the proposed plant would spread beyond Lasbela district to adjoining areas of Balochistan and even Karachi.

Also read: 6,600MW Gadani power project put on back burner

He said the gravity of the issue was evident from the fact that different countries were planning to reduce coal-fired power generation.

“France will shut down half of its coal-fired power plants by 2015 to cut carbon emissions.

The US is also planning to curtail coal-based generation by 50 per cent and China is planning to double gas-based generation to 56 gigawatts.”

Mr Bhootani said Pakistan was facing an energy crisis but it did not mean that a project hazardous to human and other life should be implemented.

He said the coast of Balochistan had tremendous potential of producing renewable solar and wind energy, therefore, efforts should be made to utilise these sources.

He urged the Chinese government to consider the humanitarian aspect of the issue and not to allow its companies to be part of the project.

The ex-speaker said his opposition to the project was based on concerns expressed by the people of Gadani tehsil.

“The Hubco Union Council has adopted a unanimous resolution against the setting up of the project and the members of the UC have also launched a campaign against it,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play