LAHORE, Nov 25 Environmentalists, conservationists and civil society activists have sought help of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to save hundreds of trees likely to be felled during Eid holidays to pave the way for widening of Canal Bank Road.

In an application on Wednesday, they requested Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of the matter and direct the government to restrain from slaughtering trees.

The application said the Punjab government was planning to widen Canal Bank Road from Thokar Niaz Baig to Dharampura underpass at a hefty cost of Rs3.15 billion, without fulfilling its obligations under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997. The chief minister had announced that work on the project should be started. “The project envisages felling of over 5,000 mature trees and taking away 51 acres of green land from the general public. Road widening is also against the master plan of the city and suffers from major defects in terms of urban planning and transparency.

“Previously, an EIA was conducted for Rs700 million project but citizens overwhelmingly rejected it at the public hearing. A case is pending in the Lahore High Court against the EIA for the previous project,” said the application moved by concerned citizens who have gathered under the banner of Shajar Dost.

They feared that during the Eidul Azha holidays the priceless, speechless trees would be the first casualty of this development project.

Conservationist Dr Ajaz Anwar told Dawn that some three years ago, Lahore was deprived of a historical asset during Eidul Azha holidays.

“Haveli Mian Khan was built during the regime of Emperor Shah Jehan. It was spreading over acres -- from Rang Mahal to Mochi Gate. Gradually it fell victim to commercial vandalism - the beautiful and priceless structures were replaced with ugly plazas and shops. Only a wall and its main entrance near Rang Mahal had survived but it was also demolished during Eidul Azha holidays three years ago by the men of one Raju Pehalwan with the patronage and connivance of some government officials,” recalled Dr Anwar who had been the founding secretary of Lahore Conservation Society and a senior faculty member of the National College of Arts.