LAHORE: The Punjab government told the Lahore High Court on Tuesday the project of coal power plant near BRB Canal had been scrapped and a notification to this effect would be issued soon.

Additional Advocate General Shan Gul stated this during hearing of petitions filed by individuals and the Lahore Press Club, challenging construction of the power plant for being a redundant technology and health hazard.

The bench, headed by Justice Shahid Karim, observed that the government should discuss merits and demerits before initiating any project to save time and public money.

Take a look: Full bench sought on pleas against coal power plant

The petitioners stated the Punjab government intended to acquire the 1,188 kanal at Mauza Khaira and Sultanpura to establish a small coal power project. They said the coal power projects were abandoned across the world and had been considered not feasible.

They said the government had established a company “Punjab Power Development Limited” having aims to develop power projects with public-private partnership and to arrange funding through loan negotiation and joint ventures.

Counsel for the press club Azhar Siddique said the land proposed to be acquired was located within the newly declared residential area and it was close to the Lahore Press Club Housing Society. He said the coal plants could not possibly be allowed to be located within a residential area. He said the government’s act was a violation of articles 9, 14 and 38 of the Constitution and the court was bound to implement the fundamental rights.

The bench, however, disposed of the petitions in the light of government’s reply. In this case, the acquisition of land for the project had already been stayed.

Plots allotment: The LHC on Tuesday gave a last opportunity to the Lahore Development Authority to present record of plots distributed among people in Garden Town by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif when he was the Punjab chief minister back in 1988.

Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan also directed the director general of the Anti-Corruption Establishment to submit record of the inquiry held for the allotment of such plots by next hearing on Sept 15.

A member of the public through advocate Noshab A. Khan filed the petition pleading that Mr Sharif misused his powers by distributing plots among his blue-eyed people and ignored the deserving.

The counsel said the CM had no power to allot any land to any one without auction and due course of law.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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