Industrial units exempted from relocation
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA), on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has exempted all existing industrial units from the area notified for the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project.
Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) spokesman S M Imran highlighted on Saturday that the industries would now continue to function at their present locations as usual and would not be relocated for the project. The residential localities which do not fall in the course of the river will also not be acquired.
The spokesperson and Senior Member Board of Revenue, Punjab, Babar Hayat Tarar made the announcement following a meeting with the local industrialists in Mehmood Booti area near Lahore Ring Road. The officials met the industrialists on the direction of the prime minister.
The local industrialists welcomed the prime minister's decision and expressed satisfaction over the guarantee given to them. They have thanked the prime minister and Punjab chief minister for removing apprehensions about their businesses by clarifying the situation in this regard. Announcing their support for the project, they vowed to not be misled by disinformation.
The Ruda spokesperson briefed the industry owners about the details of the project and answered their questions in this connection. He told them that the prime minister had strictly directed the dislocation of people should be limited to only the unavoidable number. Therefore, settlements on 2,500 acres of land will not be acquired for the project, he added.
He highlighted that a large number of settlements had sprung up in the flood-prone area of Ravi river during the past few decades. These settlements were in grave danger in case of the release of floodwater by India at any time. Acquisition of such localities will be necessary, the spokesman added.
He said it was not merely a project but a complete city spreading on of 120,000 acres of land. It has been planned according to the modern planning standards and will be developed in three phases spanning over 30 years.
The spokesman said that in the first phase of the project, a 46 kilometres long lake will be formed by erecting 28-foot-high walls on both sides of the river besides constructing barrages at three places. Seven water treatment plants will also be installed under the project, which will treat 836 cusecs of water daily for supplying to the lake.
The lake will be used for collecting water and saving it from being wasted. This water could then be used for irrigation in an area of 340km along the river, he the spokesman added. He said the construction of the lake would improve the groundwater level in Lahore.
He further said that it would be an environment-friendly city where six million saplings would be planted and 10,000 acres of land would be set aside for a forest and orchards.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2020.