A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday permitted the Punjab government to further widen the Canal Bank Road at certain points while allowing an application filed for the purpose.
The bench allowed the government to construct 1.3 Km long underpass at Chaubucha Interchange and addition of third lane in sector falling between Doctor’s Hospital and Thokar Niaz Beg besides realignment of Jail Road underpass, storm water drainage and other project features.
The bench also dismissed a contempt application filed by Lahore Bachao Tehrik for initiation of contempt proceedings against officials for violating earlier court orders on the subject.
The three-member bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar announced the verdict at the SC Lahore Registry. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar wrote the 27-pages judgment wherein the bench held that the purposed project comply with the recommendations and directions of earlier court orders in “cutting of trees for canal widening project (Suo Motu case)”.
The bench observed that purposed construction of u-turns, bridges, storm water drainage system, realignment of Jail Road Underpass, widening of road between the Mall to Harbanspura Interchange, addition of third lane from Dharampura to Harbanspura, 1.3 KM underpass at Chabucha Interchange and addition of third lane from Doctor’s Hospital to Thokar Niaz Beg aimed to remove bottlenecks and ensure smooth traffic flow which comply with directions of the court as well as recommendations made by the Mediation Committee Report in said Suo Motu case.
The bench observed that the government had already assured during the hearing that it would plant ten trees for each tree cut in the process. “It is a matter of public knowledge that in the city of Lahore, number of trees have been planted in different parts and on account of such, the environment has improved.
Therefore, the cutting of trees would in no way be a hazard to the environment but to disallow such widening in fact is causing great trouble and inconvenience to the public at large and on account of congestions it has become in fact hazardous for the commuters on this very important road.
“Therefore, there is no reason as to why the applicant should not be allowed to execute the work and to correct the crooked part of the road i.e. skewed which in fact has become a traffic hazard,” the bench added.
The bench held that the officials had not violated earlier court order on the subject.
“We do not find it necessary or expedient to take any action against the respondents,” the bench added.
Bazaar, Anarkali, Shah Alam market, Hall Road, Mall Road and Jail Road remained partially closed and there was little commercial activity. The traders were of the view that they will chalk out their future strategy after witnessing the reaction of the government to their yesterday’s strike.