It is a misconception that widening of the Canal Bank Road would further beautify the Lahore Canal and in the process lessen pollution in the surrounding areas, which is being advocated by the supporters of this project.
This consensus voice came from the architects, town planners, environmentalists, lawyers, doctors, artists, community leaders, prominent citizens and activists, who were asked to comment on the Punjab government's proposal of widening of the Canal Bank Road here on Saturday.
Imrana Tiwana, convener of Lahore Bachao Tehreek and architect, Rafay Alam, a lawyer, Saima Khwaja, a civil society activist, Tamkinat, an environmentalists, Rabiya Nadir, Nusrat Jehan and Nabeela besides Ali Habib of the WWF-Pakistan voiced their concern over the project.
They wondered how the Punjab government could announce initiation of the project without carrying out proper Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project, which is requisite for any development project. "Spending such a hefty amount without knowing its impact could cost more in terms of environment degradation," they added.
According to them, in 2007 the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency, of the Lahore Development Authority, had taken the canal road widening project and conducted its EIA, which was challenged in the Lahore High Court and it is still pending. The project's EIA had flaws, as it offered no alternatives.
In this backdrop, the government ironically announced the project. Unless the project has been revised, for which a fresh EIA is required, it would be in sheer violation of environmental laws to go ahead with it. They were of the strong view that the widening of the road would only add to the pollution in the city, it is an example of automobile dependant development.
"The government's ill priority could be gauged from the fact that investment in public transport over the last decade is negligible compared to the amounts successive governments have spent in elite-dominated automobile-friendly development," they noted.
"We are not anti-development. Traffic congestion could be reduced in a sustainable and environment-friendly manner. The government should operate efficient public transport; augment Multan and Iqbal Town roads for better access to motorway and Raiwind.
The huge amount being spent on widening of a road could better be utilised for the provision of public transport, education and health sectors," they observed. It may be recalled that on November 7, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had approved the project of widening the road, with the argument that by removing hurdles in the flow of traffic would beautify the canal and decrease pollution in the surrounding areas.
Under the first phase of the project, the Canal Bank Road would be widened between Thokar Niaz Beg and Dharampura at a cost of Rs 3.15 billion (which in 2007 was estimated at Rs 700 million) and its completion time is one year.
This high-cost project is being presented as a solution for congestion on the canal road due to the present and predicted mushroom growth of automobile population in Lahore. The project entails widening the present road by adding two lanes one for four-wheel vehicles and one for two-wheel traffic on either side of the road. In the process, at least 10,000 trees would have to be cut to achieve this and 60 acres of green belt will be lost under asphalt.