LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Thursday submitted latest master plan of the provincial metropolis till 2050 to the Lahore High Court in addition to details of a project about plantation of 5.13 million trees during the next four years.

A report submitted by the LDA also revealed that a new legislation was on the cards for mandatory plantation of at least 10 trees in one-kanal house.

The LDA also presented details about functional, planning and administrative boundaries of Lahore city.

Earlier, Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid expressed concern over felling of trees in different parts of the city and questioned performance of the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

The CJ admonished a PHA official for his ignorance about trees felled by a hotel management on Egerton Road.

Expressing concern over growing boundary of Lahore, the CJ observed that the city now should be better named as “LDA”.

Representing a petitioner, Advocate Azhar Siddique said no action had been taken to control smog and smoke-emitting industrial units. He said the government could not show any progress except making committees.

The chief justice warned the government authorities of strict action if effective measures were not taken to eliminate environment pollution and smog. He summoned a progress report on the next hearing.

WATER: Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court on Thursday sought recommendations from the environment department for preservation of clean water and control of air pollution.

The judge also directed the provincial government to publicise actions taken by a water commission formed by the court.

The judge observed that millions of gallon water was being preserved on a daily basis with the initiatives of the commission.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2020