Chief Justice stops Lesco from felling trees on Canal Road

LAHORE:Lahore High Court Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh Monday stayed the felling of trees on the Canal Road by Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) for installation of a 132KV transmission line near the Jallo Park.

The chief justice warned the authorities of strict action if a single leaf was cut off on the Canal Road. He was hearing petitions by civil society member Imrana Tiwana and others challenging felling of trees along the greenbelt of the canal near the Jallo Park by the Lesco with the permission of the forest department. Advocates Ahmad Rafay Alam and Azhar Siddique represented the petitioners.

The counsel told the court that the Lesco was undertaking construction of 132KV Ghazi Road (Fatehgarh High Voltage Transmission Line) while poles had already been installed and some portion of the line had been threaded with an outstanding stretch of approximately 2-3km along the canal. He said the division forest officer carried out an auction of trees to be cut along the line for the purposes of threading the remaining transmission line. He said the last date of removal of the trees had been fixed up to Feb 6, 2020.

The counsel argued that the felling of the trees was in violation of the Canal Heritage Park Act 2013. He pointed out that requisite permission had not been obtained from Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) before holding auction for the removal of the trees. He asked the court to declare the impugned auction and the felling of the trees along the canal illegal. The CJ adjourned hearing for a date to be fixed by the office and sought written replies from the respondents.