Date:19 December 2007
| Latest facts confirm contradictions in Canal Road Widening Project |
It has been announced that 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 Niza Baig. WWF – Pakistan, Lahore Bachaoo Tehrik and Darakhat Bachaoo committee strongly oppose this superfluous chopping of trees.
In response to the plea submitted by WWF – Pakistan and Lahore Bachaoo Tehrik the Supreme Court issued an order of conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed road widening project area. The EIA report of NESPAK ‘Remolding of Canal Bank Road Lahore form Dharampura Underpass to Canal View bridge at Thokar Niaz Baig, Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA), City District Government Lahore (CDGL)’ has a lot of contradictions with the original facts and figures.
The Scientific Committee (SC) of WWF – Pakistan has conducted a rapid assessment research study for reviewing the EIA report of NESPAK by comparing the data of flora and fauna. This study lead 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.
Notwithstanding the fact that the figure of this research study was almost many times higher than that claimed initially by the EIA report of NESPAK, the issue takes one back to the whole development versus environment debate.
The total vegetation on the Lahore Canal Bank is twenty one thousand three hundred eighty eight (21,388) which comprises six thousand five hundred fifty seven (6,557) shrubs and fourteen thousand eight hundred thirty one (14,831) trees. Whereas the total numbers of mature trees on both the green belts are ten thousand one hundred and twenty eight (10,128).
According to the EIA report of NESPAK only one thousand eight hundred and fifty (1,850) mature trees will be cut due to this proposed road widening project whereas the research study conducted by WWF - Pakistan found that 5,299 mature trees has to be cut due to this project on 18 feet width on both sides of green belts.
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 will be causing serious impacts on the health, aesthetic and socioeconomic conditions of the local residents and vendors of the area. Commuters and passer-byes will also suffer. In a survey, ninety-five percent (95%) of residents were against the cutting of tress, on inquiring thirty percent (30%) of them replied that there will be an ecological loss, twenty five percent (25%) said loss of aesthetic beauty and ten percent (10%) said loss of protective function.
As per the recommendation of this study, encroachments from the road sides should be removed 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.
Saman Ehsan
WWF -Pakistan
Ferozepur Road,Lahore.
Tel: +92 042-111-993-725,
Email: publications@wwf.org.pk
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