I AM a resident of Gulberg 3. My neighbours (residents of 291-A/1 and 293-A/1) have installed heavy/noisy gas generators on either side of my property (292-A/1, Gulberg 3). On account of the unbearable noise and the physical and mental distress it was causing, I wrote letters to (i) the District Coordination Officer of the City District Government, Lahore (CDGL), (ii) the District Officer (Environment), CDGL, (iii) the Chief Executive of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, (iv) Chief Secretary of Punjab and (v) Director-General of Environment Protection Department on April 30, informing them of my and my family members' suffering, requesting them to take immediate action as the noisy generators had been installed illegally and unlawfully. However, it seems that all complaints have been in vain.

We can't rest during any part of the day and our sleep is disturbed during the night which makes us sick. However, no responsible official checks and controls this continuous public nuisance. Loadshedding was somehow tolerable but it is impossible to cope with this unbearable noise. Even sometimes they run their generators when power is intact. One of the neighbours got assistance from an SNGPL employee.

The loud noise and vibration caused by the installation of generators is a form of pollution recognised by Act Section 2(1) (xxx) of the Pakistan Environment Protection Act (PEPA), 1997 which defines 'noise' as the intensity, duration and character of sounds from all sources, and includes vibration.

Act No XXXIV of 1997 an Act to provide for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment for the prevention and control of pollution and promotion of sustainable development.

I am a heart patient and continue to suffer from the noise pollution emitted by the illegally-installed generators. This is a violation of our civil right, over and above the violation of our right to a clean environment.

I would appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to order the relevant officials to check and take stern action against such public nuisance, as well as to issue orders for ensuring enforcement of all environment pollution laws so that nobody can violate them.

MS IMTIAZ
Lahore