KARACHI, July 30: Experts at a public hearing on environmental impact assessment report here on Tuesday observed that the proposed oil pipeline project from Port Qasim to Mahmood Kot, Muzaffargarh, could cast adverse affects on human and wildlife and, therefore, adherence to serious precautionary measures were needed.

They viewed that the whole right of way (ROW) was important with respect to construction activities in view of its different sensitivities in various landscapes as the pipeline would cross bridges, streams, settlements and agriculture fields, while people attached with transportation business would also be affected as opportunities of work for them would be reduced after the pipeline became operational.

The public hearing of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for construction of 780km long, 26 inches diameter buried pipeline for transportation of high speed diesel (HSD) to upcountry was arranged by the Environmental Protection Agency, Sindh.

The director-general of the agency, Shafique Ahmed Khoso, presided over the programme.

The government has planned to lay a pipeline along with the existing pipeline constructed in 1981 for transportation of crude oil from Karachi to PARCO refinery at Mahmoodabad.

The right of way of the project had been divided into four sections: Port Qasim to Bubak (215km), Bubak to Shikarpur (220km), Shikarpur to Fazilpur (219km) and Fazilpur to Mahmood Kot (127Km).

According to officials, the land requirements have been identified and acquisition is in progress. The contract for engineering and construction works of the project, which is likely to cost US $480 million, has been awarded to a Chinese petro-engineering group.

The PARCO project manager, Abdur Rashid, said the WOPP had become a necessity to avoid the current mode of transportation. The pipeline will cater to the HSD requirements of the central and northern regions of the country to the tune of 5 million tones per year, which is likely to increase to 12 million tons per year by the time the line is commissioned.

Referring to the present mode of transportation of white oil through road and railway, Mr Rashid said at present 257 truck- tankers were required every day and if the pipeline project was not implemented the number of trucks would increase at least four fold, which meant that an oil tank lorry shall be setting off every 33 seconds on the National Highway for transporting 12 million tons of HSD per year.

He said the underground pipeline project did not include any production process, while there was neither any significant noise making machines nor any fuel burning and exhaust emissions in wake of the project. Except for electricity and small consumption of water for human consumption and service, the project shall not consume community resources.

The pipeline route in Sindh mostly passes through uncultivated lands and hilly terrain. A section of the pipeline of about 56km length shall pass through Sindh protected area — Kirthar National Park and Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary.

The consultant for the project, Waqar Zakaria, said the ROW was deliberately routed away from populated area wherever possible, both to reduce impacts on humans and cultural and historic features and to minimize the need for compensation for land-take and damage to crops, livestock and other assets.

Talking about mitigation measures, he mentioned the area covered by the project activities would be kept to a minimum, the surplus soil would be disposed of in a manner that it did not disturb the natural drainage and the natural drainage pattern would not be disturbed.

He maintained that there were no chances of any significant air quality deterioration or damage to biological resources. Efforts would be ensured not to cause disturbance to the protected or sensitive bird and mammal species.

However, the experts called for constant monitoring of the development and seeing that environmental effects were lessened. It was also urged that an effect monitoring committee should be constituted.

The participants were informed that local people in the project area and its vicinity had no opposition to the project, provided they were compensated for the land likely to be acquired. They pointed out that there should be proper identification of the owners of the lands and payments for the land should be distributed by the PARCO.

One official from the wildlife department said status of the wildlife, animals and birds existing in the vicinity of the pipeline was not discussed quantitatively. Vibration due to operation of machines and vehicles would affect animals as well.

To a question, the PARCO officials agreed that the project did not have chances of any massive employments of people, while on the other hand people related to tanker services and industry would have to divert their business.

It was also maintained that no aquatic flora and fauna would be disturbed due to any water pollution as the pipeline was not being laid through major river beds or wetlands. It was also said that physical development or infrastructural facilities in the urban area would not be affected due to undertaking of the pipeline project.

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