Building steel bridges: Japan puts condition of EIA for funding CDGK

Japan government has placed a condition on the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) to fulfil prerequisite condition of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to get Rs2.55 billion soft loan for constructing five steel bridges at various locations in the metropolis.
Well-placed sources in the government told PPI that the Japan Bank of International Co-operation's (JBIC) representatives had completed the feasibility of the project of a total 15 steel bridges, which would be used by motorists.
Following the completion of feasibility, the JBIC agreed to lend 85 percent of total cost of five steel bridges to be built at the first phase. Remaining 15 percent expenses to be incurred on the construction of steel bridges would be born by CDGK. The total cost of first phase had been estimated at Rs3 billion, sources added.
They said that the loan would be repaid at the rate of 0.4 percent interest at easy instalments. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in nine months after start of work, as the bridges would be imported from Japan and assembled here. However, the supporting structure of the bridges would be built indigenously, they added.
CDGK has given undertaking to the representative of JBIC of getting EIA before the agreement would be signed. The sources in Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), however, said three to six months would be required for EIA after the application received from CDGK.
According to plan, in the first phase of the project, five steel bridges would be built at Shafiq Mor, Fazal Mills inter section in North Karachi Town, Ghani Chowrangi, Habib Bank in SITE area and Dowood Chowrangi in Landhi Town.
Executive District Officer, Transport and Communication, Muhammad Athar told PPI that PC-I of the first phase of steel bridges completed by CDGK had been sent for approval of Provincial Planning Department.
After the approval, PC-I would be sent to Federal Planning Commission, Central Development Working Committee and National Economic Council for further approval respectively, he added.
CDGK has given the surety to representative of Japanese Bank that after the approval of PC-I, NOC of SEPA would be got definitely and all government rules would be followed, he said.
He said, only at Dawood Chowrangi, some private property would be affected for the bridge construction but other four steel bridges would not affect any one.
It may be recalled, according to Environmental Protection Act 1997 EIA should be done of every project of above Rs500 million and no work could be started unless NOC was sought from SEPA.