The writer is an award-winning environmental journalist. She holds an MA in Environment and Development from SOAS in London
Terming the digging of the tunnel in the Margalla Hills a sheer violation of the law, since they are legislatively a protected area, PML-Q leader Senator Mushahid Hussain appealed to the chief justice to take suo-motu notice of the matter and bar the government from undertaking this project. Last week, the Supreme Court did exactly that, making the decision in less than 45 minutes to squash the project that aspired to connect the federal capital with Haripur district.
The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, asked the government’s representatives, mostly lower staff from the Capital Development Authority and the National Highway Authority, details about the project, which they were still unable to give, having provided ambiguous answers in the earlier hearing. Apparently, the tunnel project was announced on August 23 at a meeting presided over by none other than Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, where it was decided that the project would be initiated to link Islamabad with Haripur. The traders and shopkeepers of Haripur were, of course, delighted with the decision.
Aghast at the thought of a Sheikh Zayed-style road cutting through the Margalla Hills, Islamabad’s civil society banded together under the leadership of the Margalla Hills Society led by the veteran civil servant, Roedad Khan. Given his contacts in government circles, Roedad Khan was convinced that the project woud go ahead unless something was done to stop it. Environmentalists and activists met at the Kuch Khaas centre located opposite the national park to chalk out a plan of action, including a protest walk and mobilising the media. A steering committee of around half a dozen citizens decided to pursue the case at the Supreme Court, showing up at all the court hearings and insisting that the proposed tunnel would merely shave off 10 to 15 minutes from the current road that connects Islamabad to Haripur (all one really needs to do is to improve the infrastructure of the existing road).
On October 25, the Supreme Court ordered the Margalla Tunnel Project to be stopped and halted any construction and digging in the hills. Christina Afridi, one of the members of the steering committee who attended the court hearings, texted all those who had worked together: “Thanks to the Supreme Court and thanks to our supporters (who struggled) for the protection and preservation of Margalla Hills National Park. Mubarak to all of us!” It was indeed a great victory for environmentalists and nature lovers and all those who reject the surreal ‘Dubai model’ of development. The ostentatious city of Dubai, with its oil-guzzling desalination plants and bizarre ski slopes in the desert, is not exactly a model for a greener future.
As Bilal Haq, another committee member, pointed out: “What I learnt that day at the Supreme Court is that there is no need to be so apathetic in this country — if you want to change things you can, you just need to put in the effort to make a difference”. It was a good example of civil society getting together to take a leadership role in safeguarding the environment. The media also played an important role by highlighting the issue and building up public pressure. Who says democracy doesn’t work in Pakistan?
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (13)
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It seems as if our leadership or the people in the ruling echelons have a vague vision of development. We just want to copy other countries without considering our specific geopolitical and socioeconomic needs and strengths. Why should we carve out sky risers and flyovers everywhere when they are not our basic needs? I am not entirely against constructing good infrastructure but it should be need based. Is Islamabad an industrial hub that we need to accommodate lots of people within the city area? We are an agricultural country and our planners’ needs to strengthen the agricultural infrastructure away from the cities on modern grounds by bringing to the access of farmers new technologies in order to produce value added products of high standards for local use as well as for export to regional and global markets. If ''NEED BASED'' principal is adhered to, we will be able to exploit our resources correctly and efficiently. I strongly urge the planners in the ruling corridors to concentrate on a sustainable revolution rather ambitious adventures like Margala tunnel, which can be a sweet dream of a real-estate tycoon but will be a nightmare for the citizens, as it will only bring pollution of all sorts, be it noise, carbon or heavy traffic to the beautiful city of Islamabad.
there should be two tunnels built across Margalla one for the road and the other for train
@S Khan: I DONT say that it would cause NO damage. But compared to a road built accross the mountain, a tunnel trhough the hills would cause minimum damage. At least, the scenic beauty (landscape) would not be affected. Flora and fauna would remain largely untouched.
However, I am against the mushrooming of another city on the other side of Margalls hills because that development could endanger the hills more than the tunnel itself.
@omer ali: This is the most stupid analysis so far, I have seen on the above topic. how come digging through Margalla hill will improve revenue? how will it gets us to natural rsources? and how will it generate electricity? as Far as the auther is concerned, I think she has written an intelligent article and its thought provoking and inspiring in a country where everything is wrong! Envirionment should be on the forefront of whatever we do!! If we kept on behaving as we do, we as nation and as a country are doomed! I hope it dosent happen and we do get sense. Pakistan is a country of conspiracy theorists, we love conspiracies in every thing, no matter how obvious it is! we still dont believe that Malala was shot in the head! we still dont beleive that Bin Laden was hiding and captured from Abbotabbad!! Instead of accepting it and correcting our mistakes, we blame others for all our faults. Every body is waiting for God to help but remember God can only help those that help themselves! Look at the entire developed world, they went through extreme hardship and to this day an avarage person works harder than ever to maintain that good living standards that they have developed for themselves. It wasnt given to them in a plate, hence Pakistanis should stand up,know and accept your faults and correct them! only then there is a chance that the lives of millions will improve. These corrupt politicians will not do anything for you. opposing the above project was just one shining example of citizens standng up together and taking an initiative and fair play to them and well done.
@ghayyas: how do you know that a tunnel through mountain doesnt causes any damage?
This lady is so stupid i swear ! I mean im a nature lover too,but you cannot just stop these sort of advancements from happening ,we need all this ,we'll think about nature later ,right now,whats important is revenue generation in all possible ways,Reena saeed khan you should definetly start working on something else as a good citizen for example,next time go to tthe court for some real issue unlike this one ,think and talk about the natural resources we can dig out and use for revenue generation,especially Margalla hills,projects should be carried out for getting natural resources ,so we can genrate revenue and electrcity and overcome poverty in our country !
First, who says that Margalla Hills is a NATIONAL park. National parks are established according to a standard criteria. Margalla Hills park doesnot fulfull that criteria. It was designated as a national park to please the elite of Islamabad.
Second, what damage a tunnel (passing through the mountain) can do to the scenic beauty, fauna and flora of the hills. Almost nothing.
@AliKuliKhan: yes infrastructure has to be improved but you don't need to start huge mega projects in a country where there is lack of basic human necessaties! we have a duty to ptotect our environment for us and for our children. the solutuion to growing population is to develop public transport system, and not to build huge higways in cities!! it is to discourage people not to use their cars for a trip to city but a good public transport! cutting trees and obscuring beautiful hill views is not the way forward. I live in a western country and know, how difficult it is to get planning permission for such projects. sharif brothers have no concept of environment, if it was left to them, they will cut the last tree in this country to build a factory, which i may say, if it only helps them in the long run!!! they have transferred all their wealth abroad to a green environment and don't care about pakistan. They use Pakistan as a spring board when it suits them otherwise they have a lavish life stylel abroad. well done civil society of Islamabad, if you get united, then these Crooks can not destroy our beautiful city.
The supreme court had no business to interfere in the decisions made by the elected government. We elect our representatives to govern the country as people want. With regard to the tunnel, the activists may try as hard as they can but will not be able to withstand the onslaught of the growing population. The roads will have to be widened, the trees cut down, overhead bridges and underpasses / tunnels will have to constructed to accommodate the growing pressure of traffic.Unless we control the exponential growth of population nothing will remain. Democracy is not about courts deciding what actions of the government are wrong, its the people who decide. Judges must first put their house in order. http://tribune.com.pk/story/627899/uncivil-behaviour-at-lahore-civil-court/
Civil Society is good thing to happen but what did they achieve by putting barrier in the way of development, if it was of any benefit for the people at both the ends of the tunnel. I always read people suggesting that below ground railways should be run in places like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabaad etc. My sinple question to all is to look at Karachi Circular Railway. Are we any way efficient in running Urban railways over the ground? No. So how do we expect to run a very expensive below ground system? The best and most efficient means of transport has been found to be Light Railways or Trams for the Urban transport. So we should try to concentrate only on bringing in Trams. Below ground Railway System is an expensive adventure, both in capital and maintainence. To give an example I have been informed that installing high voltage cables below ground is six times more expensive than transmittal of power through above ground means involving those sky high towers supporting high voltage cables. So it goes for below ground railway system. People in places like London now can see the folly of disbanding trams way back in in the mid 1940s,. Now they are bringing it back. So for urban transport we should always consider trams.
Pakistan have enough issues to tackle, don't have any money to do the most essential things like power,gas,employment,infrastructure. The Shariff brothers instead of concentrating on those issues are again trying to make visible mega projects so that they can be remembered. Complete the tunnel to Chitral which has been suspended for years. Complete the Islamabad airport. Instead the PM wants a new one built at Rewat. It is behaving like school children. I am so glad sane people who want to preserve the beautiful back drop of Islamabad prevailed and had this senseless project snuffed out at its inception, their cronies would make a wind fall from it I am sure. When President Ayub Khan moved the capital it was designed to be like the Australian capital, Canberra. it remained like that for along time.However Islamabad was made far bigger then it was planned to be by the CDA for various reasons. Best city in Pakistan and people wanted to move there must be one. It would be a better idea of putting a subway there in the near future, which would ease pollution and move people more efficiently in the greater region of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Will bring it prestige, Make a railway station, which it does not have as such. Constructing sidewalks on all streets so that people can walk in residential ares without the fear of being run over. Dumpsters in each block so that the place looks kept. Parking structures in various parts of the city even under ground. The upkeep of Islamabad isn't being done properly, the commercial centers are run down and chaotic. CDA has lost direction.
Why not develop areas at the back of Margalla Hills. What crime people of that Areas have done? Or Is it Islamabad only for the people of Islamabad?
Democracy gives everyone equal chance to work together, This includes the poor. So civil society protests only work when the affluent and connected classes come together who have contacts and interests in the bureaucracy, media, law, etc.