LAHORE: The Lahore High Court yesterday ordered the Punjab government to build a short term project in order to keep river Ravi’s water as neat and clean as possible. The court also ordered the government to complete it within a three months period without waiting for ‘River Ravi Project’—a long term project.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court passed the order while hearing petitions seeking directions for the government to clean river Ravi from the wastage of local factories which had polluted it badly.
The judge remarked that the project of cleanliness of river Ravi is of great public interest and it should be completed as fast as the project of signal free was completed. The judge ordered the Punjab Chief Secretary to issue funds for the completion of the project aimed at cleanliness of Ravi and come up with the report on next hearing.
During the course of hearing, River Ravi Commission’s Secretary Advocate Rafeh Alam told the court that the wastage of local factories was being thrown into the river due to which the whole ecosystem was under serious threat.
"The entire river Ravi was looking like a pool filled with poor and filthy waters," the secretary stated. He said the water is no more for the use of men and animals while the government could not prepare PC I for Ravi Project.
He stated at least 42 kinds of fishes and other species were under serious threat. "Rs 30 million are needed for short-term project," said Rafih Alam, "On other hand, there would be seven waste treatment plants for River Ravi Project installed which would cost Rs 3 billion," he said before the court.
Lahore Development Authority’s counsel told the judge that the short-term project was not built as the long-term project was due. When asked about the feasibility report of the long-term project, the LDA counsel replied that it was to be prepared, however, 30,000 acres land would be acquired for River Ravi Project.
On it, Justice Shah observed the short term project be established for cleaning of river Ravi without waiting for the River Ravi Project. The court put off further hearing for one month.