CDA allowed uplift projects sans EPA nod

Court sends notices to CDA chief, Islamabad mayor

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court was informed on Saturday that the apex civic agency of the federal capital had granted permission for several construction projects without the approval of environmental protection agency.

A single-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah sent notices to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairpersons, Islamabad mayor, and Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) secretary.

The court remarked that all three officials must clarify why action against them shouldn’t be taken.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director General (DG) Farzana Altaf said that Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation of different projects including Rawal Dam Chowk, Korang Pull and PWD Interchange.

The CDA did not obtain approval of these projects from the environmental watchdog, DG added.

Altaf asserted that it must not have been in the knowledge of the premier but the CDA chairperson let it happen despite knowing everything.

Minallah remarked that CDA cannot allow constructions on nullahs, adding that the environmental protocols were widely violated in the federal capital.

The EPA DG decried that they have been abandoned and nobody listens to them. At this, Minallah asked how come it was happening. “Did you send notices to CDA chairperson or its members?” the court inquired.

To this the EPA DG said that the CDA had numerous inspectors while they had none. I am only working with six deputy directors, Altaf informed the court.

At this, Minallah said that EPA could start a criminal case against the CDA chairperson, Islamabad mayor, and federal secretary and served notices to them. The hearing was adjourned until July 11.

Govt’s reply sought

While hearing another case, the IHC has sought response from the federal government on the status of the National History and Literary Heritage Division.

The federation has also been asked to submit an answer on the appointment of Dr Fauzia Saeed as Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) Director General by the Federal Minister for National History and Literary Heritage Shafqat Mehmood.

A single-member bench of IHC comprising Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzaib heard the case on the petition of GM Chaudhry on Saturday.

The petitioner argued that Dr Saeed was appointed directly on the orders of the federal minister, contending that a federal minister did not have the power to appoint an official in Management Grade Officer of MP-1 scale. He added that PMCA DG did not also fulfill the criteria required to be on the seat and pleaded the court to revoke her appointment.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2020.