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PESHAWAR, Jun 04 (APP):The Peshawar High Court held a hearing on several petitions related to environmental pollution and sought responses from relevant parties.
The two-member bench, comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Fazal Subhan, presided over the session.
During the hearing, the legal representative for the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) stated that the court had previously summoned the Secretary of Local Government and the Director General (DG) of PDA. The court had issued directives concerning canal maintenance and established a commission for the task. The lawyer informed the bench that work on the identified canals is ongoing.
Justice Ijaz Anwar expressed dissatisfaction with the current condition of these canals and nearby roads, particularly near the Bara River. He remarked that despite the presence of heavy traffic, the road remains in a severely deteriorated state. Reflecting on past efforts, he said, “Forty years ago, even a tree branch would be trimmed if it interfered with the road adding that now, despite all the machinery, the roads are in terrible shape.”
The PDA lawyer acknowledged that the drainage water has been mixed with irrigation channels, which has adversely affected agricultural land. As a result, crops can no longer grow in affected fields. The DG PDA admitted that only 15% of the work on five key canals has been completed since the project began in 2020. He assured the court that drainage water would be separated from canals and a treatment plant would be constructed.
When the issue of funding was raised, Justice Ijaz Anwar criticized the government’s inaction, stating, “The government talks about climate change every day, officials hold meetings in luxury hotels, yet no tangible work is being done. If you can’t do the job, then step aside.”
The petitioners’ lawyer highlighted that their farmland has been infertile for the past five years due to contamination from sewage water.
Justice Anwar also questioned the progress regarding crushing plants. In response, the Assistant Director Legal of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed the court that they have requested reports from the district administration and the industry department, which will be submitted upon receipt.
He also mentioned that 12 brick kilns have so far been shifted to Zigzag technology to reduce emissions. Meanwhile, an Executive Engineer from the Irrigation Department said steps are being taken to prevent sewage from entering the canal system along Canal Road.
The court then adjourned the hearing and demanded written responses from all concerned departments.