Port City: Eco-impact under expert review

By Chandani Jayatilleke

A new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out on the Chinese-funded Colombo Port City Project is inadequate and requires technical defects to be addressed before sea reclamation resumes, a local team of experts has recommended, the Sunday Observer learns.

Following a fresh study, the experts argue that there is conflict of interest among agencies involved in the EIA, such as Uni Consultancy Services, affiliated to the Moratuwa University, National Aquatic resources Agency (NARA) and GSMB Technical Services, affiliated to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, which formed part of the technical evaluation committee charged with the responsibility of reviewing the EIA.

The study carried out by the local team of experts attached to the Western Region Megapolis Planning Project said if executed in the current form, Sri Lanka stands to lose more than half a billion US dollars as opportunity cost in the project as the Chinese developer has been allowed to extract sand from the sea bottom completely free.

There are several serious issues to be addressed before the terms of the joint venture is finalised, Chairman, Western Region Megapolis Planning Project (WRMPP) Ajita de Costa, told the Sunday Observer.

The EIA on the project was carried out by the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Department (CC & CRMD).

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe leads a high-powered delegation to Beijing this week to finalise details for the re-start of this massive project - the country's largest single urban development - as well as other programs of cooperation and trade with China. The government will have to invest a large amount of money to develop new utility infrastructure to cater to the Colombo Port City, as China will not bear these costs under the existing concession agreement, de Costa said, referring to the report by the experts team.

"When it comes to projects done by the Sri Lankans, utilities are given at subsidised rates. We believe a large user such as the Colombo Port City should pay the actual costs incurred," he said.

The project developer also plans to use the entire utility infrastructure such as water, electricity, sewerage and waste water meant for the Colombo City, de Costa added.

"However, the existing service capacities of these utilities are not sufficient to cater to the demands of this large project. For instance, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) wants to set up a new Water Treatment Plant in Ambatale with a capacity of 38,000 cubic meters per day, to cater to the needs of the Colombo Port City itself. But the NWSDB does not have funds to build this facility and that component will, therefore, come under the Megapolis Project," he said.

He added that the EIA report also permits the Colombo Port City to use the sewerage network capacity allocated to serve the population growth of South Colombo areas. "If it is allowed, areas in South Colombo will be deprived of piped water for the next 10-20 years."

Another key concern, is that the project would use most of the aggregate (rock) and sand available for other development projects in the country. "Its requirements exceed domestic and long-term demand for projects coming under the Megapolis initiative.

They also plan to bring 300 truckloads of rocks from Kaduwela on a daily basis. The overall impact and economic costs are significant - given the road use and the traffic congestion," de Costa said.

He said damage to the environment, especially sea grass from Colombo to Kalutara remains a concern. "When sea grass is destroyed as a result of construction work, the fish will no longer have a base to lay their eggs.

The depletion of fish stock will result in environmental degradation and deny thousands of fisherfolk their traditional livelihood," he said.