SNGPL is striving hard to play its important role for sustainable development taking shape in the country. By providing natural gas to areas like Murree another milestone has been achieved to minimise deforestation.
The Company is committed to provide a safe working condition for its employees and for community, leading to incident/ accident free environment. In line with Company's Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) policy development projects are executed safely meeting legislative requirement for environmental performance. To comply with HSE standards work permit procedure, incident reporting procedure including environmental incident occurrence were strictly followed.
Many factors have contributed to the successful commissioning of the Gas Transmission Pipe Line for Murree. Among others, Health Safety and Environment (HSE) was an important component of this project. During each step of the execution of Murree Gas Line project HSE issues were carefully monitored by a team of highly skilled professionals. SNGPL takes pride that construction of 58 Km pipeline in difficult terrain in record time, without a Lost Work Day Injury and no negative impact on the environment, has been completed. This speaks about our commitment regarding adherence to HSE culture.
Besides other standard procedures, the following measures were adopted to mitigate the impact on the resources of the area.
-- Vegetation loss was kept to an absolute minimum. Large tree and area of dense vegetation was avoided to a possible extent. The Punjab forest department has been compensated by SNGPL by way of payments equivalent to cost of ten trees for each tree loss.
-- We had ensured the safe disposal of all kinds of waste generated during construction.
-- Our employees followed the "No hunting policy" in true spirit.
As promised with the community at the beginning of this project, we paid special consideration to the social impacts during construction activities. We have maintained a close contact with all stakeholders like Public Representatives, Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), Agriculture & Forest Department, Highways and Railways particularly with the local community at all stages of the project; landowners were paid 19 million rupees against crops/ trees compensations and re-plantation of trees during construction of Murree Gas Line.
The Company has also paid 32 million rupees to the concerned municipal agencies for restoration works such as roads, streets, pavement repairs etc in order to retain the prevailing environment and to cause minimum inconvenience to the community.
Natural gas is a clean burning fuel, especially in relation to other fuels in use locally therefore, project will indirectly results in reduced air emissions and cutting of trees. Consequently, improving ambient air quality, in addition to providing a more economical and efficient fuel source.
With the availability of natural gas in Murree CNG stations have been planned by the private sector, in and around Murree, which will provide less expensive and clean fuel to the transport sector. The CNG use in vehicles will help in reducing particulate matters and Sulfur Dioxide emissions to air. This will help improve the deteriorating environment of Malka-e- Kohsaar.
SNGPL provided employment to 400 locals during the construction phase. With the completion of Murree Gas Pipeline Line Project residents of Murree will not only benefit directly by this low cost and clean fuel but will also get new employment and business opportunities, as it would help improve the tourist related trade and infrastructure in the area.