Curbing deforestation: ‘Green bench’ issues arrest warrants
The Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) green bench issued bailable arrest warrants for the director general of the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) and all four tehsil municipal officers.
The warrants were issued after the officials failed to appear before court during a hearing against the illegal cutting of trees in Peshawar and the Malakand division. The court also asked the officials to submit data regarding trees cut in the last four years.
The managing director Forest Development Corporation (FDC), also summoned to appear in the next hearing, has been told to bring records of the FDC budget. A report outlining the implementation of court orders has also been requested.
The green bench took notice of the issue on October 17 and had issued notices to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), seeking an explanation for their failure to curb deforestation.
A division bench headed by the PHC chief justice (CJ), Dost Muhammad Khan, and Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth was informed that a case has been registered against the tehsil municipal administrator.
The chief forest conservator, Gul Muhammad, told the bench that action is being taken against the timber mafia and additional trees are being planted.
CJ Khan asked Gul to submit statistical data. The court has been receiving credible information that tree-loaded trucks guarded by armed men leave Malakand division for Punjab.
Once all the respondents submit their replies, a commission will be formed to investigate the matter and the National Accountability Bureau will be asked to weigh in.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
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I think that the species for planting trees in that area are not the same as that of the ancient forests. These can never be replaced, which is very sad. The new species are assumed to be of the faster growing variety.
In addition to the above comments, one child policy has also to be placed on the table to be considered for implementation.
GREEN BENCH should also pass order to make family planing mandatory to reduce the pressure on the existing natural resources of the country .