LAHORE, Sept 14: Archeology department director general Orya Maqbool Jan has said the Punjab government had allocated Rs300 million for the restoration and preservation of Lahore Fort. Deposing before a two-member Punjab environment protection tribunal during the hearing of the Eco Watch Trust complaint here on Wednesday, he said the amount was meant for the Alamgiri gate, royal kitchen and basement of Shish Mahal in Jehangir Quadrangle, illumination of the picture wall, removal of encroachments around the fort, shifting of the Rim Market and development of green verges and parks.

He said the city district government had already been approached for cost estimates for arranging shifting of the Rim Market and removal of encroachments in four acre area between picture wall and fortification wall for rehabilitation by June 2006. The Parks and Horticulture Authority had been given Rs10.5 million for the restoration of the parks and green verges in and around the fort in three months. Consultation had been completed with a Norwegian firm for the development of the outer theme parks.

The tribunal directed him to take a decision on removal of the Rim Market and other encroachments within 15 days in consultation with the DCO.

Punjab transport secretary Agha Nadeem submitted that an inquiry was already in progress to verify reports regarding grant of permission for manufacture of 40,000 two-stroke rickshaws on December 31 last year, a day before imposition of a ban. He was of the view that the 40,000 figure was exaggerated. It could be 4,000.

Environment protection department director (North) Nadeem Ahmad submitted that orders had been given to 30 industries in the vicinity of the fort. The limit for taking environment protection measures by the industries would expire on Sept 26.

The Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency representative submitted that a Rs76.21 million scheme for the improvement of Ravi Road and developing parking facilities had been submitted for approval. Illegal parking around the fort along Ali Park and Circular Road had been stopped.

Imran Ahmad Bhatti and Jahanzeb Nazir Malik appeared on behalf of Eco Watch Trust.