LAHORE, March 8: The Punjab Environment Tribunal on Wednesday directed the provincial government to submit a proper plan for stopping the pollution of Lahore canal at more than 1,500 points by March 28.

The tribunal, comprising Syed Zamir Husain Shah and Mansoor Akbar Kaukab, gave the directions during the hearing of the Eco Watch Trust complaint against the pollution of canal.

It was of the view that minutes of the meeting of irrigation, Wasa, Tepa, PHA, health department and SWM officials held on March 6 indicated that no proper plan had been evolved for checking the pollution. Another meeting should be held and a plan should be submitted on the next date of hearing.

The tribunal expressed dissatisfaction over the reply submitted by Punjab chief secretary’s representative Dr Sher Afgan describing most of the questions pertaining to the pollution of canal as ‘not related.’

The Wasa representative submitted that a plan for laying new sewerage lines to check the disposal of sewage in canal had been approved by the provincial government and work was in progress for its implementation.

The tribunal took a serious view of failure of Tepa and Solid Waste Management representatives to appear despite receipt of notices and ordered issuance of show-cause notices to them.