LAHORE, Oct 8: The Punjab Environment Protection Tribunal on Saturday issued notices to the chief secretary and 10 provincial and city district government officials for failure to prevent the pollution of the Lahore Branch Canal.

Other officials issued notice by the tribunal, comprising Syed Zamir Husain Shah and Mansoor Akbar Kaukab, include the Punjab irrigation secretary, Environment Protection Agency director-general, Lahore Development Authority DG, Wasa managing-director, executive district officer (works), environment and solid waste management district officers.

Complainant Imran Ahmed Bhatti’s counsels Aisha Qazi and Jehanzaib Nazir submitted that the respondents had failed to discharge their duties regarding prevention of canal pollution on account of discharge of housing colonies sewage and effluent of industrial units despite having been approached for the purpose.

They further submitted that the respondents had allowed development of housing schemes along the canal banks without taking measures for prevention of discharge of sewage in the canal. The canal was being polluted due to discharge of sewage and industrial effluent and dumping of waste by the residents of Harbanspura, Tajpura, Mughalpura, Maskeenpura, Niazbeg and other localities on account of failure of the respondents to discharge their duties for the prevention of the same in accordance with the Pakistan Environment Protection Act.