I AM a resident of 292-A/1, Gulberg 3, Lahore. Over a month back I launched an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding my neighbours installing very heavy/noisy gas generators on either side of my property, which has been generating both environmental and noise pollution as defined in Section 2 of PEP Act, 1997.

The Supreme Court directed the Environment Protection Department/Agency to take notice of the public nuisance (Reference Notice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad in HRC No. 3031-G/2009, dated June 13, 2009, directing DG, Environment, government of Pakistan, to submit a visit report by June 27, of the premises mentioned.

Both the residents were granted an opportunity for personal hearing under Section 16 (1) of Pakistan Environment Protection Act 1997, on June 22.

Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 16 of the Act ibid, the DG, Environment Protection Agency, Punjab, has passed an Environment Protection Order (EPO), directing the respondents to take measures within 10 days.

However, no action has so far been taken on the protection order. Though as per para No. 5 of EPO, 'the failure to comply with this order is an offence punishable under Section 17 of the Act ibid”, even EPD officials are making lame excuses irrespective of the mental agony we have been facing for the past months. The problem is that the department concerned has not been able to take any action yet.

I would like to request them to resolve my problem. Why does the complainant always have to withdraw?

MS IMTIAZ

Lahore