Metro bus project: Rs181m allocated for environmental protection, SC told

CDA tells apex court all damaged green belts, footpaths to be repaired. Project doesn't violate Islamabad Master Plan

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that Rs181 millions have been allocated for the beautification, plantation and repairing of footpaths, which would be damage due to the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project.

The top court was also informed that the project is expected to be completed by mid-February 2015. Earlier, the official deadline regarding the completion of metro bus project was January 31, 2015.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, on Tuesday took up hearings of the suo motu case, nine months after Senator Mushahid Hussain had written a letter to the human rights cell of the apex court on March 10 seeking the chief justice’s intervention over the environmental impact of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project.

During the hearing, CDA and Commissioner Rawalpindi submitted their reports regarding the protection of environment.

According to the reports, the metro bus project was started after getting the requisite NOC from Environmental Protection Agency. Similarly, there is no violation of Islamabad Master Plan in this matter.

Additional Advocate General Punjab Razaq A Mirza informed the bench that environmental issues were considered before the initiation of metro bus project.

Clarifying that he, in principle, is not against the project, Senator Hussain told the bench that he just wanted to highlight the violation of environment laws. He added that greenbelt area has been damaged and cost of project has also been increased.

Upon this, the chief justice asked him that what the Supreme Court can do in this matter.

The applicant requested the bench to direct the government for the plantation of trees as well as repairing of footpaths and green belt areas.

SA Rehman counsel for CDA however ensured the bench that after the completing of construction work, plantation as well as repairing of footpaths and green belt areas would be started, adding that Rs181 millions have already been collected from different construction companies for this purpose.

Responding to the bench’s query when the project will be completed, CDA’s counsel said the project will be completed by the mid of February.

Upon this, the court observed that two months are left regarding the completion of metro bus project; therefore, they adjourn the case until mid of March to examine the measure taken by CDA regarding the protection of environment.

Meanwhile, another applicant namely Shakir while opposing the metro bus project said that there is no need of this project in capital. The bench however rejected his plea.

Earlier, former chief justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on March 14 sought detailed reports from CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal and Metro Project Director Zahid Saeed as to whether the project was posing any threat to Islamabad’s master plan or its green belts, and whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) had been carried out.

“These reports, together with technical reports, if any, by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Punjab Environmental Protection Agency and Climate Change Division [should be] submitted by March 18, 2014,” the court had directed.