High court seeks comments on plea against Clifton underpasses, flyover
Residents have taken government officials to court over the matter.
According to the petitioners, the construction of the flyover, underpasses is illegal as it is being done without any environmental assessment. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Monday notices to various officials on a petition challenging the construction of two underpasses and a flyover in Clifton, allegedly without assessing the project’s impact on the environment.
The high court has sent notices to various government officials, including the director-general of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa), the chief executive officer of the Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC) and the director-general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).
Headed by justice Irfan Saadat Khan, the bench ordered the officials to file their comments by April 3.
The residents of Clifton had taken Sepa, the CBC, SBCA and others to the court. They submitted that the respondents had recently initiated the construction work on a project that includes two underpasses and a flyover.
The petitioners told the judges that, under the laws, no project can be started without an assessment of its impact on the environment. However, they added, this project has been launched without one.
Highlighting the technical issues involved in the project, the petitioners claimed that the project will be an inconvenience for residents. They highlighted that traffic coming from Sharae Firdousi towards the area will be blocked upon reaching 26th Street, causing inconvenience to motorists as well as to residents.
The court was pleaded to declare that the project has been launched in violation of building and environmental laws and to order that construction should be stopped immediately.
The court order also stated that constructions for the underpasses and the flyover must not damage temple property.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2014.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Monday notices to various officials on a petition challenging the construction of two underpasses and a flyover in Clifton, allegedly without assessing the project’s impact on the environment.
The high court has sent notices to various government officials, including the director-general of the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa), the chief executive officer of the Clifton Cantonment Board (CBC) and the director-general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).
Headed by justice Irfan Saadat Khan, the bench ordered the officials to file their comments by April 3.
The residents of Clifton had taken Sepa, the CBC, SBCA and others to the court. They submitted that the respondents had recently initiated the construction work on a project that includes two underpasses and a flyover.
The petitioners told the judges that, under the laws, no project can be started without an assessment of its impact on the environment. However, they added, this project has been launched without one.
Highlighting the technical issues involved in the project, the petitioners claimed that the project will be an inconvenience for residents. They highlighted that traffic coming from Sharae Firdousi towards the area will be blocked upon reaching 26th Street, causing inconvenience to motorists as well as to residents.
The court was pleaded to declare that the project has been launched in violation of building and environmental laws and to order that construction should be stopped immediately.
The court order also stated that constructions for the underpasses and the flyover must not damage temple property.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2014.