LAHORE – The The Lahore Bachao Tehreek protested against the tree felling on Ferozepur Road, on Tuesday at the Lahore Press Club. They stated that it was a sad day in the history of Lahore. Activists, town planners and architects led the protest. Among them were Imrana Tiwana, Lt Col (r) Ejaz Ahmed Nazim and others who have been involved in opposing tree felling along the Canal Road in order to widen the road.
They expressed their rage at the felling of trees on Ferozpur Road, which was being done in order to construct a flyover at Kalma Chowk. According to Amir Butt from Punjab Urban Resource Centre (PURC), the road did not need a flyover and the Punjab government went against the law by not consulting either the Transport Department or the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). Butt said, “There are already six lanes on either side of the road.
The road cannot be managed by building a flyover. Experts from all over the world are saying that flyovers should be pulled down.” He said that spending Rs 2 billion on making a flyover was a ‘waste’, especially when buses are also being imported at the same time. “Even if they bring in some of the most expensive buses for about Rs 3.5 million each, the problem will be resolved. Even London does not have roads that are this wide. How come there is no traffic issue there?”
According to others in the LBT, most of the tall, old trees on Ferozepur Road, which marked Lahore’s ‘cultural heritage’ have now been cut down in ‘violation’ of the existing laws of the country. They complained that no environment impact assessment (EIA) was made and the Punjab Government did not consult with the Planning and Development Department (Urban Unit), Transport Department or the EPA. “This is ironic because the Punjab government has just concluded a five-day high profile urban forum,” said one activist.
“The fact is that when the laws are present, what is the point if they are blatantly violated? The rule of law is supreme and abuse in any form is ‘unacceptable,” said Imrana Tiwana, a town planner. She said Lahore was one of the most polluted cities in Pakistan and tree felling and road widening will only add to the misery. The vehicular population of Lahore is the highest in Pakistan, she said, increasing at 16 percent per year.
“The way forward is quite clear as the new paradigm of urban development demands sustainability at its very core,” says Tiwana. “The answer lies in integrated management of cities, more public transport which is regularly maintained and an equitable dispensation of resources in a sustainable and green way.”
