13 March 2007
TEHRAN: The Department of Environment Tuesday renewed its warning that should environmental concerns continue to be ignored in construction of the much-publicized Tehran-Shomal Highway, it would pull the plug on the project.
The multi-billion dollar but highly controversial project will traverse the thick northern forests to connect Tehran to the popular holiday resorts in the northern Caspian Sea regions.
Speaking to ISNA on the sidelines of a meeting of the special committee studying the project, deputy head of the DoE for human environment complained that the relevant bodies have still not addressed major environmental concerns over the roadway.
According to Hassan Asilian, contractors of the huge project are accused of regularly dumping construction material waste into the protected Chalus River that has resulted in the reduction of its width.
He added that construction of bridges, passing of heavy trucks into the river and discharge of debris produced by digging operations in the Alborz Tunnel near Douna village...have contributed to the environmental degradation in the picturesque region.
The committee, in a meeting attended by officials of the Roads and Transportation Ministry and those in charge of the project, decided to give a one-month deadline to companies involved in constructing phase one of the highway to introduce a reliable environmental supervisor and offer strategies to resolve existing problems.
Recalling that all the next phases of the project are located in regions under DoE control, Asilian acknowledged the need to speed up construction to avert further environmental damage.
He warned that the DoE would take serious measures if the contractors and operators fail to observe the necessary environmental standards and precautions.
"Unless environmental concerns are adequately addressed the top environmental body will take action to halt the construction of the highway."
Launched almost a decade ago, the project that also passes through rugged terrain and difficult mountainous regions, has not made sufficient progress largely due to funding constraints.
However, some headway was reported earlier this year when China, one of the major partners in the project, signed an agreement to meet part of the financial needs.
Earlier reports said the United Nations has also expressed concern about the negative impact of the project on wildlife habitats, the highly popular northern forests, and quality of life in the scenic Caspian rural areas visited by millions of Iranian and foreign tourists every year.
TEHRAN: The Department of Environment Tuesday renewed its warning that should environmental concerns continue to be ignored in construction of the much-publicized Tehran-Shomal Highway, it would pull the plug on the project.
The multi-billion dollar but highly controversial project will traverse the thick northern forests to connect Tehran to the popular holiday resorts in the northern Caspian Sea regions.
Speaking to ISNA on the sidelines of a meeting of the special committee studying the project, deputy head of the DoE for human environment complained that the relevant bodies have still not addressed major environmental concerns over the roadway.
According to Hassan Asilian, contractors of the huge project are accused of regularly dumping construction material waste into the protected Chalus River that has resulted in the reduction of its width.
He added that construction of bridges, passing of heavy trucks into the river and discharge of debris produced by digging operations in the Alborz Tunnel near Douna village...have contributed to the environmental degradation in the picturesque region.
The committee, in a meeting attended by officials of the Roads and Transportation Ministry and those in charge of the project, decided to give a one-month deadline to companies involved in constructing phase one of the highway to introduce a reliable environmental supervisor and offer strategies to resolve existing problems.
Recalling that all the next phases of the project are located in regions under DoE control, Asilian acknowledged the need to speed up construction to avert further environmental damage.
He warned that the DoE would take serious measures if the contractors and operators fail to observe the necessary environmental standards and precautions.
"Unless environmental concerns are adequately addressed the top environmental body will take action to halt the construction of the highway."
Launched almost a decade ago, the project that also passes through rugged terrain and difficult mountainous regions, has not made sufficient progress largely due to funding constraints.
However, some headway was reported earlier this year when China, one of the major partners in the project, signed an agreement to meet part of the financial needs.
Earlier reports said the United Nations has also expressed concern about the negative impact of the project on wildlife habitats, the highly popular northern forests, and quality of life in the scenic Caspian rural areas visited by millions of Iranian and foreign tourists every year.
© Iran Daily 2007
