Katas Raj pond: Cement company files review petition

Claims it was not secretly drawing ground water

ISLAMABAD: A cement company, which was fined by the Supreme Court for using underground water which led to the pond in the historic Katas Raj Temple disappearing, has filed a review against the fine.

The company has contended that the company did not illegally use underground water, hence the fine imposed on it should be withdrawn.

The Supreme Court, in a bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, had asked the Punjab government to fix a price for the use of groundwater apart from imposing a fine on companies built near the pond for using underground water.

In their review petition, the factory contended that they had been accused by Raja Waseem that their factory was secretly drawing groundwater for use.

On the court’s instruction, they submitted Rs100 million into the dam fund. Moreover, the company had been regularly paying the water charges imposed by the court.

The company further contended that since 2008, they had been collecting rainwater in lakes for use in production while underground water is only drawn to meet the water needs of its staff.

Moreover, the company said that a judicial commission had also proved the Waseem’s allegations as false.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2018.