Fresh survey of CIA Centre ordered

LAHORE : The Lahore High Court has directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a fresh Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) survey for an under-construction multi-storey building “CIA Investigation Centre” in a residential locality and reject the project if found contrary to environmental objectives.

Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi issued this direction in a verdict delivered on petition moved by residents of Old Anarkali challenging construction of the investigation complex, which they said was a sensitive installation and amounted to put the lives of the locals in danger.

The judge directed the EPA to review initial environmental examination afresh and accord approval to the EIA subject to certain conditions and it was empowered to reject the project if it was against the environmental objectives. He ordered the agency to resolve the controversy by applying independent mind after hearing petitioners and all stakeholders taking into consideration the environmental aspect of the construction.

As the building in question was being erected without a valid EIA, Justice Sethi ruled that the EPA was under a legal duty to act in accordance with law if any building, having environmental impact, was constructed without any EIA/permission. The judge directed the EPA to comply with order within 30 days and submit a compliance report with the deputy registrar (judicial) of the high court. Representing the petitioners, Advocate Taffazul Haider Rizvi had argued before that the court that in past terrorist attacks had taken place on buildings of law enforcement agencies resulting into loss of life and property of citizens. He said the life of the residents of this area was already miserable due to extraordinary security measures taken for the nearby office of Inspector General of Police; therefore, the construction of a multi-storey CIA complex on Rabbani Road (Old Anarkali) would obviously entail similar security arrangements and the life of the residents will become a living hell. The counsel pointed out that the land in question had been previously used for single-storey residences of police officers. He asked the court to stop the authorities from raising construction of the investigation complex keeping in view that the area was purely residential having residences and schools and the same will put lives of residents at peril and jeopardise the security of the whole area.