The Supreme Court on Monday admonished Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) for their inaction against contamination of Rawal Lake through sewage water and directed them to take immediate steps to overcome the menace.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry made it clear to the authorities that the court would not allow them to supply contaminated water to citizens. A three-member bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday directed Director Generals of PEPA and Punjab Environment to appear before the court on August 25 and apprise it about the steps taken by them in this respect.
The concerned quarters including CDA were directed to appear with relevant documents. At the outset of the proceedings, Additional Advocate General Punjab Khadim Hussain Qaisar submitted the relevant reports on the subject.
The Chief Justice noted that Punjab Chief secretary and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) had submitted identical report to the Court, which indicated they did not take any action. The Chief Secretary should have visited Murree to get firsthand information of the alarming situation.
DG PEPA Asif Shuja Pasha apprised the bench that sewage water should not mix up with the rain water channels of the lake. He said it was due to illegal construction in Bani Gala that sewage water was getting mixed with lake waters. Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday remarked what was the use of holding international conferences, even sewage water was being supplied in bottles.
To bench's question Shuja replied that under Section 16 of the Pak Environment Act 1997, they had the powers to proceed. The Chief Justice remarked that you had powers but did not proceed. Poor people are getting contaminated water and why had you failed to take action, adding you are attending a number of seminars and the Agency failed to take steps. He said that water was supplied to cantonment area in Rawalpindi, which could trigger serious problem.
Misbah, counsel for CDA, said that the authority had installed three filtration plants, adding 70 per cent water was under the use of Punjab government whereas only 30 per cent was utilised by the civic body. MD WASA Rawalpindi told that they were end beneficiary.
The court directed him to produce list of unauthorised housing societies adding to contamination. The Court took suo moto action of the issue following media reports last month pertaining to deteriorating water quality in Rawal Lake.
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