Johar Town signal-free project: Trees on the chopping block | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Johar Town signal-free project: Trees on the chopping block

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: At a time when the government continues planting a number of saplings and ensuring cleanliness in the Punjab capital, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is all set to start cutting or uprooting more than 60 trees in connection with execution of Johar Town’s main boulevard (Khayaban-i-Firdausi) signal-free project.

The LDA launched civil work on the project on Saturday after the environment department issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to it, Dawn has learnt.

“This project involves cutting of more than 60 trees including huge ones. And soon it will start as the LDA’s Urban Development Wing launched civil work on the project on Saturday after the DG inaugurated it,” an official source told Dawn.

“The LDA has intentionally kept this (cutting of trees etc) secret in order to avoid reaction of the civil society, non-government organisations and groups and individuals working on environmental issues,” the source said.

Lahore had lost approximately 5,000 trees due to completion of various infrastructural development projects in the past. These include over 2,100 trees cut due to three projects from August 2015 to April 2016 — Rs2 billion Signal-Free Corridor Project (from Gulberg’s Liberty roundabout to Shadman via Jail Road), over Rs160 billion Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project and about Rs1.5 billion Canal Road Widening Project.

The Signal Free Project (Gulberg) consumed 196 trees along the route from Liberty roundabout to Shadman’s Fawara Chowk. For the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project, 620 grown-up trees were removed on its 27.1km long route from Dera Gujran to Ali Town. And about 1,300 trees were cut for Canal Road widening project at three stretches. For completion of Link Canal Road from Punjab University land via Kareem Block, 120 trees (mostly of mango) were cut.

Likewise, another mega project — Elevated Expressway Project from Gulberg to Motorway — which was also to be launched in the past was supposed to consume over 1,700 trees. As the project was to start from Babu Sabu (Motorway M2) and end at Zafar Ali Road/Main Boulevard, Gulberg, along the Cantt drain, the government didn’t launch civil work due to lack of funds and months long litigation in the Supreme Court.

“Khayaban-e-Firdausi starts from Shauq Chowk (Maulana Shaukat Ali Road and Allah Hoo Chowk and ends at Shaukat Khanum intersection. Under the project, four protected U-turns will be constructed at various spots. Similarly, the Allah Hoo roundabout will be no more as it will be

made a straight thoroughfare linking sub roads on right and left. So the project would end the traffic congestion at Allah Hoo Chowk and other intersections at the boulevard,” another official explained.

He said the LDA would manage to uproot the trees and not cut them, and transplant them to other places. Similarly, a number of new plants would also be planted in the area as replacement of the trees to be uprooted.

“The project worth Rs250 million would take three months to complete. And it would surely end various issues related to peoples’ mobility from Allah Hoo Chowk to Shaukat Khanum intersection,” he said. He claimed that the LDA had completed all legal formalities for launching this scheme. The environment protection agency too issued an NOC to launch this project.

“Being well aware of the importance of trees, we have vigorously launched tree plantation drives in the private and public sector housing schemes under the PM’s clean-green programme,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to a press release, LDA Director General Amna Imran Khan inaugurated the project. Briefing on the scope of the project, LDA Chief Engineer Mazhar Hussain Khan informed the DG and other officials that four U-turns including one single and three double would be constructed on the Main Boulevard, Johar Town on 3.7km stretch from Maulana Shaukat Ali Road to Shaukat Khanum Hospital Flyover.

“A single U-turn will be constructed between Allah Hoo Chowk and Shouk Chowk while three double U-turns will be constructed near Jagawar Chowk, LDA office and a marriage hall. “Remodeling of Allah Hoo roundabout will also be carried out under this project,” he added.

Additional Director General, Housing Zareef Iqbal Satti, Director Engineering Iqrar Hussain and other officers were also present.

Dawn


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