LAHORE: A majority of the participants/stakeholders in a public hearing on Monday rejected the elevated expressway project, terming it unfeasible and damaging to the residential localities as well as the environment.

The hearing was held at the Alhamra Cultural Complex, Qadhafi Stadium, under the Environment Protection Department on the request of the Lahore Development Authority.

During the proceedings, the members of the public refused to surrender their land/property to the government that planned to acquire about 813 kanal under the Land Acquisition Act 1894.

The government has made a planto launch Rs18 billion project to connect Gulberg with motorway (M-2, Babu Sabu) through an elevated track via Shadman and Gulshan-i-Ravi over three major drains of the city. For the project, the land would be acquired in Gulshan-i-Ravi, Ichhra, Shadman-II, Mozang, Arya Nagar, Nawankot, Sanda Khurd, Sherakot, Nonarian and Bhadru.

Though some participants supported the plan, their opinioncould not counter the opponents, mainly those whose houses/land had been marked for acquisition. The civil society also urged the government to drop the idea, saying it was of no importance. Exchange of harsh words between the project`s opponents and supporters amid slogans against each other also took place from time to time during the hearing.

The opponents of the project alleged that some of the supporters of the project were `LDA and government`s own men and employees` who were brought there to support the government. They also raised slogans against the supporters, calling them Gullu Butts who had noth-ing to do with the project.

In response, the project`s supporters also raised slogans, saying the opposition to country`s development had no logic.

Mian Muhammad Imran Yousuf said that he had given the land of his market 25 years back on Jail Road for its widening and now when he and his peers had established their business again, the government once again wanted to acquire 20 to 25 shops for the elevated expressway. He termed it unfair with him and the business community.

Sarfraz, a resident of Tauhid Park (Gulshan-i-Ravi), pointed out a man, saying he was a government official who was supporting the project.

`We know you well, you all are here to favour the government,` he said while addressing the man. `My name is Faisal and I have just come here to see what is going on here.

You people are unnecessarily opposing this most important project.

When you go abroad, you praise development. But when you are in Pakistan you oppose such development,` the man in question replied.

When briefing was being given to the participants on environmentalimpact assessment (EIA) report, it was interrupted many times. The participants asked the ofßcials to respond to their queries on land acquisition and other issues while the officials repeatedly asked them to listen to the briefing first and thenraise theirqueries.

The officials termed the project effective for reducing traffic pressure on the Jail Road and other important thoroughfares. It would also provide a direct link to the commuters to reach various major destinations, including airport and hospitals, by avoiding traffic congestion.

They also claimed the project would save fuel cost, save commuters from mental depression and other problems.

Advocate Rafay Alam (Urban Unit`s member BoD) termed the project`s EIA, public hearing and the Environment Protection Department`s role unlawful.

`Under the 18th Amendment, the role of environment department had transferred to provinces that had to frame their own rules and regulations. But it did not happen. So you are not legally authorised to conduct this hearing since the provincial government failed to frame its own laws in this regard,` he explained to the officials. Referring to various local and international studies that showed Lahore had levels of dust pollution and particles at pH-10 and pH-25 as the result of development projects which was very injurious to public health.

`The government should decide whether it has to build roads or save the public health,` he added.

Responding to a query,Environment Protection Department Director Naseemur Rehman rejected Mr Alam`s point of view.

`Under 18th Amendment, until preparation of provincial rules on environment, the federal laws on the subject will remain intact under which we can do our work, he argued, however, adding that he would consider Mr Alam`s points regarding air quality, dust and measures to control pollution.

Lahore Conservation Society (LCS) secretary information Dr Ajaz Anwar criticised the government for launching the projects that were of no importance.

`I think some pharmaceuticalcompanies have asked the government to launch this project over the city drains so that the travelers could suffer from various diseases due to impact of drains and wastewater and use their medicines more and more, he alleged.

Dr Fazeen Malik of Gulberg said the project was not feasible at all because of massive disturbance to the residents of various residentiallocalities.

Prof Dr Muhammad Saeed Shah of Shadman criticised the government for not considering the huge number of patients in hospitals.

`This elevated expresswaywould pass very close to various public and private hospitals. Why did the government ignore the fact that many patients would be affected due to noise pollution of vehicles?` he asked.

Malik Gulzar, a social worker, sought expansion of the project to the other major localities of the city.

Shahbaz Ahmad said the government should prioritise its plan. `It should at least decide that whether it would construct roads or save houses. And if it doesn`t want to save the houses, we will oppose it by all means, he warned.

Moeenuddin objected to fell-ing of 1,715 trees due to the project as mentioned in the EIA.

`You people know that a number of years are required for a sapling to grow.

Rahim, a transport and environment expert, also raised the same issue, stating that thousands of trees would be cut down due to project and termed the EIA flawed.

Ibad Ali asked the officials to explain the compensation rates.

`If you are giving us DC (district collector) rates against our property, we will never accept this, he declared.

Uzma sought setting aside the plan that would cause relocationof 563 families.

Speaking on the occasion, LDA`s Chief Engineer Asrar Saeed said the project was designed after consultation with experts. He claimed executing agency would try to transplant the uprooted grown trees at other places and new technology would be used by the Parks and Horticulture Authority for the purpose. `We will also try to give compensation to the affectees as per market rate,` he pledged.

While coming out of the venue, the two groups of participants again chanted slogans against each other.