QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court has taken strict notice of unauthorised excavation on the newly constructed Sariab Service Road and directed the authorities to take immediate legal action against those responsible.
A two-judge BHC bench comprising Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Muhammad Najamuddin Mengal took the notice while hearing a constitutional petition on Tuesday concerning ongoing development projects in Quetta, particularly the Sariab Service Road and the stormwater drainage system.
Balochistan Additional Advocate General Zahoor Ahmed Baloch, Additional Attorney General Muhammad Fareed Dogar, Chief Minister’s Package for Quetta Development Project Director MuhammadRafig,DeputyDirector (Laws and Regulations) of the Urban P&D Department Kaleemullah and other relevant officials appeared before the court.
The project director submitted a progress report on the Sariab Service Road and stormwater drainage project. According to the report, the Sariab Service Road project has been divided into three sections and work is progressing in phases.Of the total 15,140 metres of road, the asphalticbase course has been completed on 14,500 metres, while work remains pending at locations where obstacles exist.
The report said the asphaltic wearing course had been completed on approximately 6,500 metres, with work continuing on the remaining portion.
Construction of a bridge under the project has also been completed.
The court was informed that approximately 85 per cent of the stormwater drainage work along Sariab Service Road had been completed. However, work on the remaining portion had been affected by obstacles at certain locations.
Around 30pc of the kerbstone and paver installation work had also been completed, while the remaining work was in progress.
During the hearing, the court was informed that unauthorised excavation had been carried out on the newly constructed Sariab Service Road by unidentified persons associated with certain cable and communication companies without obtaining permission from the relevant authorities.
A letter written by the project director to the Sariab superintendent of police on Aug 20 was also presented before the court. A copy of a letter dated Feb 13 was also made part of the record. The letter contained instructions for relevant government, semi-government and utility organisations regarding the shifting of utilities along Sariab and Zarghoon roads, including the Samungli Road util-ity corridor.
‘Unacceptable’ The court observed that repeated, unnecessary and unauthorised excavation causing damage to newly constructed footpaths, roads and other urban infrastructure was unacceptable. The relevant institutions were directed to inform the project director and obtain formal permission before carrying out any new excavation or utility work.
The court further directed that wherever a utility corridor was available, it should be used. Where necessary, work should be carried out only at locations identified by the project director to prevent further damage to newly constructed roads, footpaths and pavers.
The court made it clear that strict legal action would be taken against individuals or institutions violating its orders, which could, where appropriate, extend to contempt of court proceedings.
The Quetta deputy commissioner was directed to ensure immediate action under the law against those responsible whenever the project director reported any unauthorised excavation or violation of court orders. The court also directed the office of the additional advocate general to clearly inform all government, semi-government and private companies that obtaining an NOC from the project director would be mandatory before carrying out any work in areas where development projects had already been completed.-Saleem Shahid