Banks DIH Limited is seeking to construct a multi-million dollar building to house its Citizens Bank, Bartica Branch operations and has since applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental permits.
In a notice published on the EPA’s website, it was stated that the construction does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The project is estimated to cost some $800 million and is to be constructed and fully operational within 16 months.
The building will be constructed on Parcel 1423, Bartica, a portion of land that is currently unused. The company has said that it has outgrown the space presently being utilized making it necessary for a new building to be erected.
The proposed building measures 64ft 7inches by 64ft 7inches and includes two security huts, a utility building, a parking lot and a 24 ft underground reservoir along with septic tank.
The project will see the employment of 25-30 persons during the construction phase while daily operations after the completion of construction will comprise 14 including two security officers.
The EPA’s screening concluded that there are no identifiable significant environmental impacts.
“Impacts arising from the construction and operational phases of the project are minor, localized, and there will be an emergency response plan as well as a detailed waste management plan that will be prepared providing measures to avoid, prevent and mitigate impacts during the construction and operation phases of this proposed project,” the EIA said.
Although the Essequibo River is located just approximately 500m away from the proposed site, the EIA states that there are no foreseen impacts that will be threatening in the execution of the project.
“Project activities will have low to minor effects on the existing ecological or biological (flora or fauna) biodiversity of the surrounding area, since this area has already been developed for housing and has long been influenced by such development,” the report stated.
However, it was stated that impacts from noise and dust pollution will be low to moderate and primarily during the construction phase and localised. It was stated that construction material on site will be covered to prevent the spread of dust to surrounding residents downwind and those in proximity.
A few years ago the company constructed two new buildings in New Amsterdam and Georgetown to house the daily operations of the bank.
