LAHORE: The Punjab government has excluded all existing industrial units and residential settlements from the land acquisition plan for the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project. However, the settlements within the riverbed will remain part of the plan.

“Following Prime Minister Imran Khan’s directions, the existing industrial units have been exempted from the area notified for Ravi Urban Development Project. These industries will now continue to function at their present places as usual and will not be relocated for this project. Moreover, the residential localities not falling in the course of the river will also not be acquired,” S.M. Imran, official spokesman for the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda), disclosed this in a meeting with local industrialists at Mehmood Booti near Ring Road on Saturday.

Flanked by Punjab’s Board of Revenue Senior Member Babar Hayat Tarar, Lahore Development Authority’s Water Engineering Specialist Riaz Hussain, Parks and Horticulture Authority Chairman Yasir Gilani, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Abdul Rauf Mehr and others, Mr Imran, who is also the Lahore Development Authority vice chairman, had called on the industrialists on the PM’s directions.

The industrialists welcomed the premier’s pro-people decision and thanked the government for removing their apprehensions about their businesses. They also announced their support to the project, pledging not to be misled or misinformed by anyone.

The Ruda spokesman briefed the industry owners about the project and answered their questions. He told them that PM Khan had strictly directed for dislocating only an unavoidable number of people. Therefore, the settlements on 2,500 acres of land would not be acquired for the project, he added.

“A large number of settlements have also sprung up in the flood-prone area of the Ravi river during the past few decades. These settlements were in grave danger due to the release of floodwater by India at any time. Therefore, the acquisition of such localities will be a compulsion,” he explained.

He called the project a complete city spreading over 120,000 acres, which would be developed in three phases over 30 years. In the first phase, a 46-kilometer-long lake will be developed by erecting 28-foot-high walls on both sides of the river besides constructing barrages at three places.

“Seven water treatment plants will also be established under this project, which will treat 836 cusecs of water daily for supplying to the lake. This lake will be used for collecting water and saving it from being wasted. It can then be used for irrigation purposes in an area of 340 kilometres along the river,” Mr Imran elaborated. He said the construction of the lake would improve ground water level in Lahore.

He further said the project would be an environment-friendly city where six million saplings would be planted. “Moreover, 10,000 acres of land will be spared for developing a forest and orchards,” he added.

When contacted, River Ravi Industry Owner Association Chairman Inam Butt said: “After the briefing, we feel there will be no issue with our industry. But they seem unaware about the land that will be acquired for connecting the project with Ring Road and Lahore-Sialkot motorway. We suggested a piece of state land that can be used for the purpose.”

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2020