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| September 30, 2005 | Friday | Sha'aban 25, 1426 |
Court assured New Murree project not to harm forest
ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that a detailed environmental assessment of the New Murree Project was being carried out during which no harm to the Patriata forest would be done.
Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan on behalf of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) assured a five-member bench hearing the New Murree Project on a suo motu notice that initial environment examination of the project was being carried out under Section 2 (xxiv) of the Pakistan Environment Protection Act 1997. After the report, Pak-EPA would examine the viability of the project under relevant laws.
An environmental impact assessment has also been commissioned after the completion of which a review would be carried out by holding a public hearing.
Similarly, Director-General New Murree Development Authority Azmat Ali Ranjha assured the court that no physical action had been done till date on the project site, in particular no tree had been felled or hill altered.
No work will be commenced on the project till all requirements under Pak-EPA are complied with, he assured.
However, some chalets were built by Saifur Rehman in the project area during the first term of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif but the Punjab government after fulfilling legal requirements resumed this land and demolished these chalets.
Led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the bench also directed the Pak-EPA and other government departments to keep the court informed of all developments and decided to resume hearing after completion of all legal formalities by the authorities concerned under the environmental laws.
The CJ also observed that the court would welcome one who came forward to assist it, adding that the orders of the court should be complied with in letter and spirit.
When the attention of the court was drawn towards a pipeline project to supply water to old Murree from Jhelum river with future provision for new development, the CJ observed that the case was only concerned with trees and the change of boundaries and sustained development.
During the hearing, Additional Chief Secretary Punjab, Khushnood Ali Lashari, Director-General Pak-EPA Asif Shuja and Director-General New Murree Development Authority, Azmat Ali Ranjha were present.
Advocate Shafqat Abbasi, Member Punjab Assembly, also appeared before the court to inform it about a resolution adopted in the provincial assembly on the project.
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