Environmental Impact Assessment of the Proposed Hambanthota Port

Conclusions

CHAPTER 8

CONCLUSIONS

The EIA Report presents a detailed assessment of the potential environmental impacts arising with the construction and operation of the proposed Hambanthota Sea Port which is to be developed in stages. The EIA is based on the feasibility study conducted by the esign !onsultants and the investigations carried out by the EIA !onsultants. It has been carried out in accordance with the re"uirements of the #overnment of Sri $an%a& stipulated in the Terms of Reference. The report is also structured in a manner which will satisfy re"uirements of donor funding agencies. The Hambanthota region in the Southern Province of Sri $an%a has been long identified as a potential area for the development of a port mainly in view of its strategic location of being close to the international shipping lanes. 'urthermore& vast areas of lands free from development activity are also available for port related development. Several studies conducted by different agencies& including the esign !onsultants have identified that the e(isting ports of Sri $an%a will reach full capacity within a fairly short span of years. Even with the proposed development of the e(pansion of the !olombo Harbour& ie.the South Port Pro)ect& the lac% of capacity for container handling and transshipment would emerge around *+*,. 'urthermore& the development of e(isting ports is restricted in view of the limited space available for ports related activities. In this conte(t it seems logical to identify an area-site for a new #reenfield Port having sufficient areas of bac%.up land for planned e(pansion. The development of a new port in the Hambanthota region thus provides a tremendous opportunity to Sri $an%a in the field of Ports and Shipping leading to industrial and economic growth of the region and the nation at large. An international sea port will certainly contribute to the economic re)uvenation of the Southern Province. The esign !onsultants have adopted an approach of mitigation through planning and design with respect to site selection and planning of layout and the design as reflected in the feasibility. /y adopting this approach potential environmental impacts have been reduced as far as possible through an iterative planning and design process. There are four stages of development identified for the pro)ect satisfying the specific re"uirements associated with each stage of development. The EIA focuses heavily on the first and second stages but has reviewed the overall impact of all stages to ensure that the respective stages are consistent and follow a logical development. The principal element of a harbour is the availability of a basin and brea%waters to provide shelter for efficient operation and manoeuvring of vessels. /y adopting a layout for an inland port& the interaction with the very dynamic ocean environment of the coastal area has been minimi0ed. The basin of the port itself will be on the western part of the 1aragam $ewaya an overall area in which the population density is very small and the impact on the environment is also small. The material to be dredged will be used for reclamation wor%s as well as for the construction of the two brea%waters which will protect the approach channel and provide shelter to the basin. A harbor comprising a basin with protected brea%waters in deep waters

Water Resources Division, Central Engineering Consultancy ureau, !"#$!#!%

23,

Environmental Impact Assessment of the Proposed Hambanthota Port

Conclusions

would have imposed severe impacts on the coastal waters and utili0ed a large amount of roc% armour for the internal elements of the brea%waters which would have to be in deep waters. In this respect the preferred approach to the design has resulted in a number of very positive features including the following& The design has achieved successfully the re"uired functional aspects of a safe and stable design which will permit efficient operational facilities while ensuring potential secondary impacts relating to failure are minimi0ed. It minimi0es disturbances with the seabed in a highly coastal 0one. It minimi0es the use of roc% material by only having two guiding brea%waters on either side of the approach channel. The design has ensured a material balance of utili0ing dredged material for the use of the construction of brea%waters and internal port structures. The selected location minimi0es the impacts on the resident community and the prevailing urbani0ation process& the overall environment and also ma%es available a substantial area of unused land for bac%.up development for port activities and for industrial growth.

The 'easibility Study Report on which the EIA is based has reviewed previous initiatives on the development of a seaport at Hambanthota. The esign !onsultants have considered all necessary elements for the 'easibility Study including an Environmental Profile-Impact Assessment. The EIA study has been supported by the investigations carried out for the 'easibility Study including mathematical modelling for the simulation of coastal processes and wave disturbances in the harbour. These studies were reviewed in detail for the EIA study. In addition& detailed environmental studies relating to marine ecology& archaeology& socio economics and road traffic were carried out. In %eeping with more recent governmental guidelines& the EIA study also loo%ed at potential disasters in the conte(t of e(posure to ha0ards and on disaster management. In this respect the impact of potential oil spills were modelled. Having done these studies the impacts arising from the pro)ect were duly assessed. Potential impacts associated with both construction and operational phases were assessed within the framewor% of the physical& ecological and socioeconomic environment 4here necessary& mitigatory measures have been recommended. 5a)or environmental threats will include relocation and compensation of persons affected because of the seaport pro)ect& and the impact of the induced development. The mitigation of these impacts will have to be achieved through rigorous monitoring programmes that will be implemented before the pro)ect commencement& during and after the seaport construction. In

Water Resources Division, Central Engineering Consultancy ureau, !"#$!#!%

233

Environmental Impact Assessment of the Proposed Hambanthota Port

Conclusions

summary& the negative environmental impacts would be mitigated and offset by the benefits of the Pro)ect. A !omprehensive 5onitoring Plan including !ompliance 5onitoring and Impact !onfirmation have been presented. The EIA study has given emphasis on the establishment of a reliable and sustainable institutional mechanism to monitor the impacts which is of primary importance for #reenfield Port pro)ects. The functions of the Environmental 5onitoring !ommittee which will play a vital role for the implementation of the 5onitoring Programme will give due recognition to sta%eholder participation and addressing public concerns. The EIA Study has considered the following five important elements of the proposed pro)ect. The e(isting environment of the area covered by the pro)ect and its surroundings The significance of the pro)ect in contributing at both national and regional level in ports and shipping sectors The pro)ect plan& design and the implementation strategy The potential environmental impacts& the ability to eliminate or minimi0e negative impacts by 65itigation by Planning and esign7 and specific mitigatory measures. The establishment of a reliable and sustainable mechanism to monitor impacts in the short term and the long term.

The Port pro)ect will provide significant benefits to the regional economy of Southern Region because it will form part of a new road. and sea transportation corridor and help alleviate e(isting transportation constraints. It will also contribute to the development of resources and industries in Hambantota and ad)oining districts. Together these developments will create new employment. It could be concluded that the negative impact of the pro)ect activities on these components are controllable while the development and operation of the HSP will bring about significant improvements on socio.economic conditions of affected communities and others living in Hambantota and in the southern province. 8n the basis of the above analysis and on the assumption that the recommended mitigatory measures are duly adopted and monitored in accordance with the guidelines given in the EIA study& it is concluded that there are no ma)or insurmountable environmental impacts with the proposed construction and operation of the Hambanthota Sea Port.

Water Resources Division, Central Engineering Consultancy ureau, !"#$!#!%

239