LAHORE: Public hearing on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the $1.65 billion Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project will be held on June 30 at Alhamra Cultural Complex, Qadhafi Stadium.

According to officials, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), which had been entrusted with the task of completing this project, had completed the EIA report and sent it to the environment department. Under the law, such reports were liable to be placed before the public for discussion and removing complaints through holding public hearings.

“All those with objections, suggestions or proposals regarding this project are required to participate in the hearing enthusiastically. The environment department will review input from the participants and take necessary steps in this regard,” said an LDA spokesman in a press release issued here on Friday.

People could also send in their objections, suggestions or proposals to the department within 30 days before commencement of the hearing after reading the EIA report available at the library of environment department (National Hockey Stadium), Punjab Public Library, office of the LDA’s chief engineer and websites of LDA and environment department, the spokesman added.

China approved a soft loan of $1.6 billion that will be issued to the government through Exim Bank of China for launching this project.

“The Orange Line Metro will run on a 27.1km track of which 25.4km will be elevated. The service will initially benefit around 250,000 passengers a day. The capacity will be increased to 500,000 passengers by 2025,” the spokesman claimed.

WASA: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has been directed to complete all drainage-related projects by June 15. In a meeting held here on Friday, the Wasa vice chairman sought completion of the Gulshani Ravi, Shera Kot and Cantonment drain projects till June 15 in order to avoid any problem during the upcoming monsoon.

The Data Ganj Bakhsh Town dengue emergency response committee on Friday sought monitoring of Wasa and Lahore Waste Management Company’s performance daily in view of water, sanitation and revenue collection and cleanliness in the city.

According to officials, the core objective of the decision was to avoid breeding and spread of dengue larvae.

“Besides this, the town administration is required to intensify in/outdoor dengue surveillance with special focus on tyre shops, graveyards etc,” they added.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between a Turkish company and a private educational institution to run advocacy campaigns jointly for improving cleanliness in the city.

HELD: City district government price control magistrates on Friday got 31 shopkeepers arrested for overcharging and hoarding. The officials also imposed a fine of Rs106,000 on several others, according to a spokesman.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2015

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