Kala Bagh Dam: Court to hear further arguments today
Petitioners’ counsel told to argue on report of technical committee.
LAHORE:
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday sought further arguments on Thursday (today) on petitions seeking the construction of Kala Bagh Dam (KBD).
The judge directed the petitioner’s counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique and AK Dogar to advance arguments on a consensus report of the technical committee on water resources.
The counsel had earlier informed the court that the committee had on April 11, 2005, given a green signal for the construction of the dam.
Siddique said the court should issue clear-cut directives for the completion of this project, which was of national importance. He said in June 1985 and July 1989 the Planning and Development Division had decided to construct the KBD. In 2004, the LHC, too, had ordered the department concerned to take measures to construct the dam. In India, he said, the superior courts had not only dismissed petitions against the construction of dams, but also admonished those who took the matter before the court.
The hearing was adjourned till Thursday (today).
The petition was filed by the Judicial Activism Panel chairman and others claiming that the non-construction of the dam would make agricultural land barren.
They said that this project was in the interest of all provinces. They said the objections raised against it were of a technical nature and could be removed.
They said that resolutions passed against the dam by the provinces were a result of ignorance.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2012.
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday sought further arguments on Thursday (today) on petitions seeking the construction of Kala Bagh Dam (KBD).
The judge directed the petitioner’s counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique and AK Dogar to advance arguments on a consensus report of the technical committee on water resources.
The counsel had earlier informed the court that the committee had on April 11, 2005, given a green signal for the construction of the dam.
Siddique said the court should issue clear-cut directives for the completion of this project, which was of national importance. He said in June 1985 and July 1989 the Planning and Development Division had decided to construct the KBD. In 2004, the LHC, too, had ordered the department concerned to take measures to construct the dam. In India, he said, the superior courts had not only dismissed petitions against the construction of dams, but also admonished those who took the matter before the court.
The hearing was adjourned till Thursday (today).
The petition was filed by the Judicial Activism Panel chairman and others claiming that the non-construction of the dam would make agricultural land barren.
They said that this project was in the interest of all provinces. They said the objections raised against it were of a technical nature and could be removed.
They said that resolutions passed against the dam by the provinces were a result of ignorance.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2012.