Colombo Port City: “No insurmountable impact on the environment”, new EIA says
View(s):A (new) Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) of the controversial Colombo Port City undertaken following demands from environmentalists for a proper EIA, has concluded in a report released this week that there is no ‘insurmountable impact” on the environment.
“On the basis of the detailed analyses … presented in this study and on the assumption that the recommendations for the mitigation of identified impacts are adopted and adequately implemented, it is concluded that there is no insurmountable environmental impacts associated with the construction of the reclamation and related protective works and the extraction of required material for the said construction – sea sand and quarry material,” the report, a copy of which was seen by the Business Times, said. The investor is the Hong Kong-based China Communications & Construction Company (CCCC).
Following an uproar over the project, approved during the previous Rajapaksa regime, over environmental issues, the new Government ordered a fresh EIA to also consider the issues raised. The new EIA is now likely to allow the Government to go ahead with the project.
The SEIA study, the report pointed out, had considered the following key elements: (a) The existing environment; (b) The significance and the contribution of the project towards national development and the potential evolution of Colombo a financial, commercial and tourism hub; (c) The potential environmental impacts including their magnitude and significance caused by the proposed development; and (d) The ability to eliminate and/or minimize the identified negative impacts effectively through both the “mitigation by design” process and the identified mitigatory measures.
The report said the SEIA was “based on Terms of Reference issued by the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management to the Project Proponent, the Ministry of Urban Development, Water Supply & Drainage on 30th August 2015”. “A highly competent team of technical consultants assisted the Lead Consultant to this SEIA study, CECB, in preparing this SEIA report. They included LHI Coast & Water, CDR, University of Moratuwa, GSMB Technical Services and NARA,” the report said.Among the concerns and recommendations of the EIA team was:
- Securing the cooperation and buy -in of the impacted fishing communities. It is vitally important that the fisher community is educated on the aspects of the project, the implementation plan, safety and mitigation measures taken and specifics of the income support and benefits programme for which funds are to be allocated to the Ministry of Megapolis as recommended in this SEIA study.
- Mitigation measures for sand borrowing: The EIA recommends that the suggested mitigation measure of obtaining sand from the borrow area assigned to SLLRDC be pursued.
- A Shore Profile Survey from “Negombo lagoon mouth to Mount Lavinia headland” the data of which will be used to monitor the shore profiles after the construction of port city.
“This SEIA report draws the conclusion that due to the construction of the Colombo South Harbour, the incremental environmental impacts from the construction of Colombo Port City is minimal/negligible at the reclamation site and the coastal zone to the North and South of the site,” it said, adding, “The Project will also not contribute to coastal erosion”. It said that contrary to popular belief dredging did not cause serious impacts and natural ecosystems such as reef systems will continue to be affected by sediment laden river turbulence.The report said the overall concept master plan for the Colombo Port City corresponds to plans prepared by CESMA International Pte Ltd of Singapore in 2004 under the Western Region Megapolis Regional Structure Plan in terms of location, scale and amount of land to be released annually for development, based on a 25 year time horizon for development of Port City.