The Lahore High Court cautions the Punjab Housing Authority regarding deforestation at the Canal Road heritage site for the Yellow Line project.
The Lahore High Court has mandated that no trees along Canal Road may be felled without prior court approval, underscoring the necessity of safeguarding the city’s green heritage and implementing stringent environmental protections.
The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) counsel indicated that the matter regarding tree cutting was misconstrued.
Nevertheless, the court stated that the PHA Director General ought to issue an apology for his prior statement.
The judge cautioned the PHA counsel that if the department was discovered to be felling trees, their license would be revoked.
The court stated that it does not oppose the Yellow Line project, but indicated that an independent consultant has been designated for it. The court stated, “Canal Road has been designated a heritage site, and there are Supreme Court rulings safeguarding it.”
It also mandated the establishment of a plantation in Johar Town utilizing the Miyawaki urban forest model.
Justice Shahid Karim inquired about the absence of the inauguration for the smog emission analyzer machine. The government attorney acknowledged that the delay was attributable to specific factors.
The LHC, while adjudicating petitions concerning smog regulation, mandated action against restaurants operating past midnight.
A member of the environmental commission notified the court that he witnessed smoke near Sheikhupura while en route to Islamabad. “Upon our request for a report, it lacked substance,” he remarked.
The court imposed an immediate fine of Rs1.5 million on the brick kiln adjacent to Hiran Minar and instructed officials to secure a sworn affidavit from the offenders. The court cautioned that should the kilns in Sheikhupura contravene regulations once more, they would face demolition. The immediate dismissal of the head of the environment department in Sheikhupura was also mandated.
Justice Shahid Karim oversaw the hearing of petitions submitted by Haroon Farooq and others. Officials from the environmental and other relevant departments were present during the proceedings.
