Iranians work on a section of a pipeline linking Iran and Pakistan after the project was launched during a ceremony in the Iranian border city of Chah Bahar on March 11, 2013. (AFP Photo / Atta Kenare)[/caption]Wednesday, July 10, 2013 - KarachiEnvironmental Protection Agency Sindh will process theEnvironmental ImpactAssessmentReportof Iran-Pakistan (IP)gas pipelinein Sindh for its approval by Expert Committee after its go-ahead made at PublicHearing meetingwhich was held at a localhotelhere.
Giving his concluding remarks, DirectorGeneralEPA Sindh Naeem Ahmed Mughal said that pre and post-construction monitoring of the project will be strictly done to make the proponent take care of every aspect of the environment during this whole developmental activity.
He expressed hope that this project will uplift the socioeconomic milieu and keeping in view of the energy crises, this project is important because available energy resources are rapidly depleting. He said that EPA Sindh encouragesdevelopmentand to foster sustainabledevelopmentits role is important so that no one can cause any threat to environment and todays public hearing aims to minimize the potentialsourcesof danger to the environment.
He pointed that the proponent of the project has bypassed the KirtharNationalParkduring the execution of the project that is a goodsign. Nevertheless, the environmental sensitivity cannot be ignored outside the KirtharNationalParkand we have to fully ensure protection of every type of flora and fauna, he added.
He further said that we have to minimize the changes in natural environment, like we cannot ignore the soilerosionfactor which could be caused due to use of heavy machinery during the execution phase of the said project. Inshortwe should make projects that are environmentally sound and monitoring ofEnvironmental ManagementPlan will be done at everystageof the referred project, he concluded. Mr Waqar Hussain Phulpoto, Director Technical EPA Sindh also spoke on the occasion.
It may be pointed out that the mandate of the project IPGas Pipelineis to supplynatural gasfrom Irans South Pars gas field and deliver at Pak-Iran border, near Gawadar and to end at Nawab Shah covering a distance of over 781 KM.
By Pakistan Observer
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
