Sector F-10 green area: Petition filed against cement mixing plant
Counsel argues cutting of trees, destroying greenery would destroy environment
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A citizen has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking order against establishing a cement mixing plant in a green area of Sector F-10/3.
Petitioner Tahir Pervaiz through his counsel Yasir Mehmood Chaudhry has filed the petition against the establishment of a concrete batching plant, commonly known as cement mixing plant, in the green area of Khayaban-e-Iqbal in Sector F-10.
He has made Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC), the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Logistic Sukh Chayn Valley (Pvt) Ltd respondents. The case is fixed for a hearing on October 8, Monday.
In the petition, the counsel said that the petitioner and his friends planted 169 saplings over an area of six kanals where older trees already existed while taking part in the recent tree plantation drive by Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, a few days ago, a tractor and bulldozer started chopping off the older trees along with the young sapling plants, said Chaudhry.
When the petitioner tried to stop them, the counsel said, a representative of the company said that IMC and CDA have allotted the land for establishing cement mixing plant and a permission letter was issued to the company after a payment of Rs2 million.
The company representative maintained that the petitioner should reach out to IMC and CDA if he had any objection. Chaudhry stated in the petition that the petitioner was shocked that IMC and CDA are the custodians of green open spaces but instead of protecting green spaces, they were playing the role of helping hand in destroying them by allowing trees to be cut down and greenery to be removed from the green belt.
Chaudhry has stated in the petition that IMC and CDA have allotted the space measuring 11,667 square yards of green belt for cement mixing plant without obtaining the Environment Impact Assessment Certificate under section 12 of the Environment Protection Act, 1997. Apart from seeking a restraining order, Chaudhry has requested that the court declare it illegal to set up the mixing plant in an area filled with greenery as it would pollute the air and harm the environment.
He said the plant will cause environmental hazards, air pollution, noise pollution and damage air quality, adding that cutting trees and young sapling plants is in violation of a judgment of the Supreme Court wherein the apex court had barred WAPDA from installing grid stations in residential areas and public places.
Furthermore, he has requested that the respondents be directed to submit details, including their ages and species of chopped off trees and young sapling plants removed while leveling the said land for the establishment of the cement mixing plant.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2018.
A citizen has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking order against establishing a cement mixing plant in a green area of Sector F-10/3.
Petitioner Tahir Pervaiz through his counsel Yasir Mehmood Chaudhry has filed the petition against the establishment of a concrete batching plant, commonly known as cement mixing plant, in the green area of Khayaban-e-Iqbal in Sector F-10.
He has made Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC), the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Logistic Sukh Chayn Valley (Pvt) Ltd respondents. The case is fixed for a hearing on October 8, Monday.
In the petition, the counsel said that the petitioner and his friends planted 169 saplings over an area of six kanals where older trees already existed while taking part in the recent tree plantation drive by Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, a few days ago, a tractor and bulldozer started chopping off the older trees along with the young sapling plants, said Chaudhry.
When the petitioner tried to stop them, the counsel said, a representative of the company said that IMC and CDA have allotted the land for establishing cement mixing plant and a permission letter was issued to the company after a payment of Rs2 million.
The company representative maintained that the petitioner should reach out to IMC and CDA if he had any objection. Chaudhry stated in the petition that the petitioner was shocked that IMC and CDA are the custodians of green open spaces but instead of protecting green spaces, they were playing the role of helping hand in destroying them by allowing trees to be cut down and greenery to be removed from the green belt.
Chaudhry has stated in the petition that IMC and CDA have allotted the space measuring 11,667 square yards of green belt for cement mixing plant without obtaining the Environment Impact Assessment Certificate under section 12 of the Environment Protection Act, 1997. Apart from seeking a restraining order, Chaudhry has requested that the court declare it illegal to set up the mixing plant in an area filled with greenery as it would pollute the air and harm the environment.
He said the plant will cause environmental hazards, air pollution, noise pollution and damage air quality, adding that cutting trees and young sapling plants is in violation of a judgment of the Supreme Court wherein the apex court had barred WAPDA from installing grid stations in residential areas and public places.
Furthermore, he has requested that the respondents be directed to submit details, including their ages and species of chopped off trees and young sapling plants removed while leveling the said land for the establishment of the cement mixing plant.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2018.