June 29, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 13, 1428

LAHORE, June 28: The civil society has challenged in the Lahore High Court the environment impact assessment (EIA) review process for remodelling of Canal Road. Justice Fazl-e-Miran Chauhan will take up the petition on Friday (today), filed by the WWF-Pakistan, the Pakistan Environmental Law Association, the Punjab (PELA), the Shehri-CBE, Shajardost, the Lahore Bachao Tehrik, Shirkatgah, the Pani Pakistan, the Lahore Chitrkar, LACAS (Pvt) Ltd, the Lahore Conservation Society, the Institute of Architects of Pakistan, the Simorgh Women’s Resource and Publication Centre and individuals Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee, Mr Bilal Hassan Minto and Advocate Mirza Mahmood Ahmad.

Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency of the Lahore Development Authority has decided to expand both sides of the Canal Road stretching over 14 kilometres from Dharampura underpass to Thokar Niaz Beg.

The expansion will add another lane to the two on both sides of the canal, widening the existing road by another 20 to 24ft.

Tepa officials say widening of the road will solve the issue of ever-increasing traffic in that area of Lahore city. For evaluating the project, Tepa engaged Nespak as their EIA consultant in January 2007.

The EIA was completed and submitted before the Environmental Protection Department and the general public was invited to give its comments/objections on the EIA. The public hearing held on March 14 was very well attended and the stakeholders collectively and vehemently opposed the project on various grounds like “unnecessary cutting of trees, environmental degradation caused by the project and health risks attached to it, taking a very narrow view of development, and a lack of vision for alternative options for solving the traffic issue.”

In spite of such strong reaction from Lahorites belonging to all walks of life, the government agencies are said to be going ahead with the project without completing the review process of the EIA envisaged by the law, says a press release issued by the petitioners.