Construction of M-9: NHA, FWO urged to help minimise impact on environment, people

Director General of Environment Department, Naeem Ahmed Mughal has urged the NHA and FWO to devise a better strategy for minimising the impact on environment and people living around the project area due to construction of M-9. He was speaking in a public hearing convened by Sindh Environment department at a local hotel on Tuesday to discuss the issue of the construction of M-9-Karachi to Hyderabad Motorway and its impact over the environment.
"Besides, it should not cause any damage or harm to public property living around areas of project," he said, adding the proper compensation should be given to people whose land is to be taken over. Road safety, traffic management and plantation should be ensured on the both sides of M-9, he said. The parks should be constructed at all interchanges of Motorway and suggestions and proposals of Environmental Protection Agency should be incorporated in the project, the DG said.
It was informed by environmental consultant that there would be eight interchanges and about 300 acres land should be used for this purpose. It would affect mostly on various kinds of small or big business of four districts of Sindh like Karachi East, Malir, Thatta and Hyderabad and besides, it would affect business of petrol pumps, CNG stations, Restaurants and others. As many as 136kms M-9 project would be completed by 30 months, he said.
Various suggestions were presented in hearing by the people who came from different areas of various districts of Sindh province. It was urged that environmental protection law 2014 should be implemented in spirit and letter. Project Director NHA, Jamal Shaikh and other officials were also present on the occasion.