Plant nurseries in Gulberg area of Lahore, which were reportedly 50-year-old, have been demolished. The authorities’ position is that the nurseries were built on government land, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The plants in the nurseries are being shifted to alternative places, but the process has reportedly resulted in the loss of thousands of valuable plants.
Owners of nurseries said that if the provincial government provides alternative space on a permanent basis, they can build model parks and nurseries of international standard. There were dozens of nurseries where there were millions of plants of hundreds of domestic and foreign varieties, which made the city beautiful as well as the climate pleasant.
Reportedly, the site was owned by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and leased by the nursery owners. However, now the government has ended the lease under a proposal to establish a business hub according to international standards.
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Ali Akbar, the owner of a nursery, said he did not occupy government land but leased it. He had been paying the rent till the year 2000 but then the government terminated the lease.
He added that the government had promised an alternative venue but the space given now was temporary. “We have suggested to the government that the nursery owners be given a permanent place in an area of Gulberg. We will build modern parks and nurseries with the help of all the nurseries owners there.” The park will be owned by Parks & Horticulture Authority (PHA).
On the other hand, Model Town Assistant Commissioner Zeeshan Nasrullah Ranjha said, “The nurseries were built on government land and the case was pending in court. The court’s verdict is in favour of CAA. This is very valuable land worth Rs50 billion.”
He added that the owners had been taken into confidence before demolishing the nurseries and they were facilitated for transferring the valuable plants. “Unless the nursery owners arrange an alternative location, they will be given a temporary location by the PHA where the plants will be relocated.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2021.
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