KARACHI, Feb 4: Participants of a public hearing on environmental impact assessment expressed their fear that the compound impact of the ongoing and upcoming gas exploration projects in the Kirthar National Park would cause considerable damage to the overall environment.

Belonging to various government agencies, universities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the speakers called for an effective vigilance and strong mitigation measures to avert destruction of physical, biological and socio-economic environment in the Sindh Protected Areas (SPA) identified in the southeastern part of the province.

The public hearing was organized by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) the other day to assess the impact on environment of the exploratory well (Dumbar-1 Western) in the Dumbar concession, SPA. The Director General of EPA, Shafique Ahmed Khoso, presided over the event.

The proponent of the project is Premier Kufpec Pakistan Exploration Limited (PKPEL) which has already undertaken the ongoingdrilling work in Zirkani zone.

The project activities include development of an access road and well site, well drilling and testing.

The proposed well site is located in Deh Beli Thap in Thana Bola Khan tehsil of the Dadu district. The number of the villagers likely to be involved or affected immediately is 546.

Speakers were of the view that major oil and gas exploration activities, either being undertaken or on card for future, and as such long term and specified impacts of such activities should be assessed and made public. It was maintained that unrestricted use of water could be the main source of concern among other things.

Referring to the continued depletion of wildlife in the Kirthar area, a couple of the speakers said that the construction of access roads as part of the project could pave the way for poachers and hunters who would get established and have an easy access to areas sensitive from wildlife point of view.

Nazimeen and some representatives of the NGOs of the area in question called for undertaking women development projects and income generation schemes in case positive results were achieved.

One of th speakers said that impact of exploration projects should be documented and monitoring and impact assessment exercises should be ensured in real sense.

The proponents mentioned that the Dumbar 1 (W) project should be launched only after the completion of the drilling at Zirkani-1 exploratory well.

They said that the company was committed to spend US $20,000 in the area of project but would be able to undertake community development and resource building projects, practically in the Dumbar well site area, only after the clearance of project by the relevant authorities.

It was mentioned in the Environmental Impact Assessment report that compensation for the water, extracted from project area, would be paid as per the conditions laid down by the SEPA in the environmental approval of Zirkani 1 well.

Regarding employment of the local people for the project, the proponents said that unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled people available in the area would be absorbed first in the project.

They said that PKEP, like others, recognized the cumulative impact of the exploration activities being conducted in the Park and that was why it was already in the process of extending support to Sindh Wildlife Department for the preparation of a comprehensive park management plan to develop a framework for the sustainable development and management of the KNP.

To another question, they said that the recent law and order situation and damage to gas installation was alarming, but they were already taking care of their exploration sites and a well-administered security plan was being established there.

The concerns of the local community, as raised and discussed at the public hearing, included compensation of land and crops to the owner as well as the tenants, reduction in water availability due to extraction of water for project needs and distribution of employment.

The proponents promised that water and health facilities would be made available on priority basis to the areas in question.

It was claimed by some of the speakers that poverty and unemployment were the main problems in the area and as such PKEP should ensure recruitment and on-job training of a maximum possible number of Sindhi-speaking people.

Students from nearby universities, local experts and people having an interest in wildlife should be involved in the environmental management plan, they added.