The Environmental Impact Assessment Study on construction of signal-free corridor stretching from the Jail Road to the Main Boulevard Gulberg claims the proposed project is environmentally feasible provided that the mitigation measures are properly implemented. The objective of the study was to establish baseline environmental conditions, identify potential impacts and suggest suitable mitigation measures for the execution of the project.
Environmental Consultant Hanif Chaudhry has submitted his report to Justice Mansoor Ali Shah-led full bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday, saying the total environmental costs was estimated Rs 1.0 million and included in the project cost to be borne by the contractor.
He said this study had been accomplished in line with the provisions - guidelines and directives of the federal and the Punjab Environmental Protection Agencies with stipulations and practices formulated by the former and as prescribed in the Pakistan Environmental Assessment Procedures.
He said the environmental management plan had been developed to monitor all the construction and operation activities. "The plan so adopted will take into account all the vital and sensitive issues in the project implementation. Lahore development Authority will be responsible for the execution of this plan in co-ordination with Construction Contractor, Environment Protection Department, Punjab and Parks and Horticulture Authority, Lahore," he added.
He said the project was meant to reduce traffic congestions lowering the level of service to the lowest level and thus provide relief to stakeholders and road users. The proposed signal-free corridor was located in the hub of the city accommodating best educational, health facilitation centres and business hub areas.
The geotechnical properties and mineralogical composition of the soil, das established during various studies and boring of tube wells for water supply by the Water and Sanitation and the Water and Power agencies confirmed that the soil contained silty clay. The major mineral composition for the soil is quartz, muscovite and clinochlore, which shows that the alluvial deposit received sediments from metamorphic origin.
He said the quality of air and the noise pollution prevalent in the project area has been determined and found fit for the project.
Comments
Comments are closed.