KARACHI, Sept 28: While discussing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for a proposed exploratory well in the Kirthar National Park area, participants suggested establishment of an independent body to ensure implementation of the promised mitigating measures in letter and spirit.

They said sensitivity of the construction activities planned in the locality, which was part of the Sindh Protected Area, demanded an auditing team, comprising technocrats, representatives of civil society, including the local population, NGOs and the media.

They said instead of relying on its monitoring consultants, the proponents of the development projects should extend financial support to run an independent body to ascertain whether measures emphasizing mitigation of environmental, socio- economic problems in the wake of the projects were being implemented judiciously.

A good number of officials from provincial and federal governments, representatives of project’s proponents and their consultants, NGOs, academia and newsmen attended the public hearing chaired by EPA director-general Mohammad Shafiq Khuso.

The hearing was arranged by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency for a debate on the EIA carried out for the drilling of an exploratory well - Zirkani-1 - by PKP Exploration in Dumbar Concession, which encompasses the areas of Kirthar National Park, the Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary and the Erl Sumbak Game Reserves, about 100km north of here.

The representatives of the hydrocarbon exploring firm maintained that under the environmental management plan the mitigation measures and monitoring of project’s effects would be carried out by their monitoring consultants, which would also report to the EPA and the Sindh Wildlife Department.

“We do not see any room for deployment of any other independent monitoring team,” said one of the proponents, adding that the company would adopt an open-door policy in implementation of the measures and observations would be welcomed from any quarter.

The assessment prepared in accordance with the Pakistan Environmental Assessment Procedures stated that the objective of the project was to explore gas reserves within the prospective Zirkani-1 area by drilling an exploratory well. the project would require development of an access track of 47km, lying inside the protected area, well site and camp site to support the drilling.

The construction work pertaining to the well site, including lined pits for storage of water and drilling fluid, brick masonry pads to support the rig and ancillary equipment, drilling crew camp and access roads, are planned to be completed within one-and-a-half month using conventional construction machinery and about 350 personnel.

The EIA report mentioned that mitigation measures pertaining to soil erosion, contamination of soil and water, water requirement, air emission and noise, impact of the projects on natural drainage, biological environment, disturbance to wildlife and socio-economic environment, archaeology, had already been identified and planned under the environmental management plan.

Assessment of the project impacts has shown that if all the impacts identified in the EIA were properly mitigated no unacceptable change in the baseline environment condition would occur, the report said.

A member of the consultants’ team of the exploring firm said the construction and drilling activities were expected to displace urial from a portion of their habitat in the Gaz ridge in which the well site, rig campsite, and a portion of the proposed route were located. However, they can relocate to a similar but larger area south of the well location, while their movement would also remain interrupted.

It was also pointed out that amenity, educational, cultural and religious opportunities, health facilities were already being ensured through community development plan.

Water requirement would be met from three resources: a water well to be installed at Benir-2 project area, the existing PKPEL water well in the Taung valley, and by tankers from outside SPA. It was further pointed out that water abstraction from the two aquifers at Benir and Taung for the Zirkani well-1 would have no effect on the aquifers or the community water demand.

However, one of the participants from the EPA suggested acquiring water from local resources at Zirkani instead of transporting it from Taung or Benir area, which could be a source of disturbance for human and wild lives.

Some of the participants complained that people from the project area had not been involved in the public hearing and no first-hand account of their problems and issues was placed before the meeting. However, the project proponents maintained that there would be no negative impact on the sustenance income, including agriculture and livestock gazing.

It was said that employment of local people in the proposed project would increase the income opportunities. No negative impact would take place in regard to safety and security of the locals as bypass to all communities, has been planned to avoid road accidents.

Any shortage of food would also not take place as the food items for project personnel would be bought from outside the sources. The local population would also have not to worry about any energy crisis as access route to allow unimpeded collection of firewood has also been planned, while contractors would be prevented from using local firewood.