PFF claims the project site has already been declared disaster prone. PHOTO: FILE
The officials are of the view that the authorities should have reviewed its environmental and social effects before their launch. In a statement issued on Thursday, the PFF said that the area community should have been taken into confidence with regards to their security to avoid any loss because of the installation of these power plants.
The statement said the projects were located close to the fault line while the people had been facing frequent warnings and threats of cyclone and tsunami. In case of this happening, it could be disastrous for not only the communities but also marine ecology. The project site has already been declared disaster prone, and there was no justification of environmental safety and community protection, it said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated a project at Kanupp-II to end load-shedding in the country. It said the power plants usually released heat into the seawater, which may cause a significant drop in the population of several marine species, including fish, and may cause poverty among the coastal fishermen communities due to loss of livelihood.
The PM has dreamt the Karachi Coastal Project would make the country load-shedding free, but environmentalists and area community have reservations about this mega project.
The statement also links negative effects on human health because of the power projects. They appealed to the environmentalists, civil society and human rights activists to raise their voice against the power projects to avoid the impact of potential disasters in the name of development.
The statement asked the environmentalists to make a commitment to alternatives that produce sustainable and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse pollution, such as wind power, solar energy, energy efficiency gas and energy from organic matter, such as sewage and waste.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2013.
COMMENTS (15)
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West of Karachi is "turbulent" Balochistan boundary & East of Karachi Coast is all used-up ...till Pak Steel Mill. Then it's all useless Indus Delta land till the Indian boundary!
Why? There is not much water coming down from Himalaya anymore. The government must involve the Pak citizens and put the reality papers infront of them for honest advice...Now can we trust the clans and the tribes and the illiterate masses?
Dipak@Genius: Yes, with so much natural resources, Pakistan can easily tap an additional 45,000 MW of Hydroelectric power power. Now add to that another 20,000 MW of wind and solar power plants. And do you know that Pakistan actually is one of the few countries that can sell power to the neighbors. Hard to believe, isn't it a great surprise? I have kept politics out of my thoughts in favor of prosperity of Pakistan. God bless Pakistan.
Germany is doing away with nuclear power plants. All the plants will be dismantled by year 2022. Many European countries are planning to completely put an end to nuclear power plants. Chernobyl, Russia and Fukishima, Japan, disasters are enough to open our eyes. Japan is also ending nuclear power generation in near future. Hydel, coal, solar, wind and other renewable energy resources need to be developed to make this world a safe place.
http://digitaljournal.com/article/358394
This project is 'too close for comfort' for a mega city like Karachi. The paradise point, where Kanupp 1 is located is hardly 30 kilometer from downtown. The plant should be located at a distance of 200 kilometer from Karachi. The safety standard of Kanupp 1, was good so far(Canadian tech.). The new operational plants Chasnupp 1 and II are Chinese and are working for the last two years, with two more to commission soon.
Dipak@Educated Man: Not every person who comment is a layman. Some people with very highly experienced in engineering, construction and management of large nuclear power plant projects can also comment on this subject. The real question is whether this plant is worth it.
india must object to this nuclear project as it falls too close to indian coast line....... it threatens our safety since pakistan's safety standards are worst in the world....this project must not see the light of the day.... anyway there arre too many hurdles for this project to cross....i may not even live that long :)
Nuclear plants needs a huge amount of water supply to keep them cool, but unfortunately sea water is the only option for this. If people have any other suggestions then you should apply for the job of Pakistan nuclear laboratory. Everywhere in the world nuclear power plants are located near sea, so what happens when Pakistan did it.
Should we as consumers not to do something about energy shortages, more so, those of us who are in close proximity to such industry which can help us to build our own power sources using wind power. Are those living in places which have access to metal industries, not in a position to get windmills that generate electricity manufactured and installed on their premises? Every little effort towards this will help every one. The other thing for using wind power is to build such houses and commercial premises or modify them in such a way that wind going over the roof can be brought into the buildings to ventilate these so that dependency on electrical power by using fans or air coolers is minimised.
Fishermen have destroyed our marine reserves by using banned nets and fishing during breeding season. They have polluted the sea. Go take a look of the fisheries and how they keep their catch in the boats. Like a tradition for people in sind they are also complaining while being the biggest of culprits
I have always commented positively to added energy generation in Pakistan. But this nuclear power plantdeal with China is not making sense to me. China has agreed to furnish and build their own ACP1000 reactors. This ACP1000 is China's Generation III PWR which has never been built in China or any other country. The nuclear project in Pakistan would be first ACP1000 PWR to be built on a trial basis. For China's part they are building four Westinghouse AP1000 GEneration III+ PWR from USA. The construction is going on full force. China would not dare to build ACP1000 in their own country. So they are trying in Pakistan. It would take another 20 or so many years before Pakistan ever see the first watt of electricity. So sad.
ET please collect and publish all such anti Pakistan topics so that ur eastern and western Gods may become happy...cheers..:)
@AN:
but still, it would be best if we don't rely too much on nuclear energy. it would be great if pakistan starts research and eventually develops alternatives for the future including using sewage and other waste for energy.
The sad moment when a country's fishermen have more knowledge about the ecosystem and harmful effects of nuclear plants than it's leaders.
PFF is an Indian sponsored organization which is against all development in Pakistan, including the building of dams. These people will stop at nothing to try and convince people that we should not do anything and wait for the present anarchy to get worse.
Its sad that the Tribune newspaper has given their statement space on the front page. PFF has no broad support and collecting a few dozen supporters in front of press clubs has become the standard operating procedure of irrelevant organizations like PFF.