The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday called for a detailed report on cutting of trees from provincial secretary and DG environment, due to extension of Canal Avenue Lahore, till December 21. A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice Tariq Pervaz heard the suo-moto case and issued the directions.
Nawaz Manik, Deputy Director, Provincial Environment Protection Agency, Israr Khan, Project Director Canal Road and Khadim Hussain Qaiser, Additional Advocate General Punjab appeared before the court. Israr Khan presented the Nespak report pertaining to the environmental impact of cutting trees. However, the civic representatives negated the report and contended that the report was about a previous project and had nothing to do with the current project.
Israr Khan further told the court that the canal project would affect 1844 trees. However, 3304 new trees would be planted as well. While giving the details of the project, he further said that it is a 14 km project that starts from Thokar Niaz Baig and ends at Dharampura underpass.
Imrana Tiwana, architect and environmentalist stated that the project would cause a severe damage to the archaeological heritage of the city. The project of expanding the road has been design to benefit a selected few while majority of the citizens are being deprived.
She said that there are 700 buses in Lahore and it has been declared as the most polluted city of the country. Cutting of these trees would aggravate the pollution in the city. Revealing details about the project, she said that earlier the cost of this project was Rs 700 million, but now the project has gone up to Rs 9 billion. She gave the example of USA and Seoul where traffic issues were solved without disturbing ecosystem.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed that the government in London did not go for expansion of their roads merely to preserve its heritage. Lamenting the strategy of cutting trees for expansion of roads, Imrana Tiwana said that instead of making transport system efficient, trees are being sacrificed to expand the roads. The court adjourned the hearing for December 21.