The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of Nespak on 'Remodelling of Canal Bank Road Lahore from Dharampura Underpass to Canal View Bridge at Thokar Niaz Baig' has a lot of contradictions with the original facts and figures.
The scientific committee (SC) of WorldWide Funds for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) revealed this in its research study that reviewed the Nespak's report. The scientific committee has conducted a rapid assessment research study for reviewing the EIA report of Nespak by comparing the data of flora and fauna. This study led by Ms Nida Masood was also aimed to access the impacts of road widening project on the ecology and well-being of the local residents.
The scientific committee has found that the facts and figures quoted by this research study was almost many times higher than that claimed initially by the EIA report of Nespak. In their study, it observed that the total vegetation on the Lahore Canal Bank is 21,388, which comprises 6,557 shrubs and 14,831 trees. Whereas the total numbers of mature trees on both the green belts are 10,128.
In the report, the committee contradicted the EIA report of Nespak that says 'only 1,850 mature trees will be cut due to this proposed road widening project'; the research study conducted by WWF-P found that 5,299 mature trees has to be cut due to this project on 18 feet width on both sides of green belts.
It continued that small mammals (such as small Indian mongoose and Indian palm squirrel), insects like centipedes, earthworms, dragonfly, damselfly, different types of butterflies (such as peacock pansy and honeybees) and amphibians (such as Indus valley bullfrog, common frog, toads) whereas in reptiles monitor lizards and geckos and some rare species of birds (such as grey hornbill and yellow-footed green pigeon) are under serious threat due to the destruction of their habitat.
"Besides all the ecological destruction this road widening project would be causing serious impacts on the health, aesthetic and socio-economic conditions of the local residents and vendors of the area. Commuters and passer-byes would also suffer. In a survey, 95 percent of residents were against the cutting of tress, on inquiring 30 percent of them replied that there would be an ecological loss, 25 percent said loss of aesthetic beauty and 10 percent said loss of protective function," the study added.
The study made a number of recommendations that included removal of encroachments from the roadsides in order to facilitate the traffic flow. An intra city high volume bus service may also be introduced to reduce traffic load from the roads. Alternate routes need to be identified for diverting the traffic flow. TEPA should get technical assistance of experts for sustainable development for such projects.
It may be recalled that the Punjab government had announced that the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) is to start widening of the Lahore Canal Bank Road to ease traffic pressure and to secure the travel time by about seven minutes from Mustafaabad to Thokar Niaz Baig.
The WWF-P, Lahore Bachaoo Tehrik and Darakhat Bachaoo committee strongly opposed this superfluous chopping of trees that would take place during the widening of the Canal Road. In response to the plea submitted by WWF-P and Lahore Bachaoo Tehrik, the Supreme Court issued an order of conducting the EIA of the proposed road widening project area.
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