KARACHI, Dec 9: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency would hold a public hearing here on Dec 16 on environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on drilling of exploratory well in Dumbar concession, southwestern Sindh.

The proposed well site is located in deh Thana Arbab Khan in the Thana Bula Khan tehsil of the Dadu District. The site is a traditional grazing ground for livestock, specially during the monsoon, said an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.

The drilling activities planned for ascertaining the presence of gas, under Kambhu-1 well, in the Kirthar National Park, would be carried out in three phases, — construction phase, drilling phase and completion phase. The proposed project is likely to be completed in about seven months.

According to the report, which would also come under discussion at the public hearing, construction of project facilities would require clearing of vegetation covering insignificant area. It is estimated that a total of 17.1 hectare would be cleared, which is insignificant in comparison with the total area of the Kirthar Park, the report said.

The project activities in the area would utilize 4.69 hectare of mohaga land — the areas that form drainage paths and are usually adjacent to owned lands.

The Premier Kufpec Pakistan Exploration Ltd would inform the local communities well ahead of time of the commencement of the construction activities on specific land requirements, while compensation for owned land, mohaga land and crop damage would also be paid in a transparent and timely manner, the report said.

While maintaining that the ground-water resources of the area are already under stress, the EIA experts for the explorers pointed out that the extraction of ground-water for the project might have a short-term impact on these resources.

Compensation for the water extracted from project area would be paid as per the conditions laid down by SEPA in the environmental approval of the Zikrani-1 exploratory well, the report added.

The proposed activities may disturb the local population in the immediate vicinity of the access road and campsites. However, measures have been identified in the EIA report to monitor the affects and ensure safe practices in order to reduce or avoid disturbances to communities.

“The potential long-term impact of the project on the socio-economic environment of the area includes an expanded road network, an increase in human population, cultivated land and livestock farming, fuel wood extraction, and wildlife hunting,” the report said.

Referring to the effects of project on wildlife, the consultants to the proponent, anticipate displacement of wild ungulates during site-preparation and road construction, and reduced access to water resources. The range of mitigation measures to be adopted include managing the movement of vehicles and project crews, minimizing illumination in the direction of the high ridge, minimizing noise levels, and beginning construction at the well site prior to mid-January to minimize the impact of breeding behaviour of urials and ibexes, the report added.