LAHORE: An apparently ‘managed’ public hearing on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Lahore Division Master Plan-2050 could not yield any results, as most of the participants, largely employees of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), remained silent and only a few from the public raised concerns over the plan and urged the government to involve all stakeholders while finalising it.

“How can the LDA, which couldn’t even resolve parking issues at its Johar Town headquarters, prepare the master plan of Lahore division?” an official source privy to the hearing quoted a man as criticising the LDA administration.

Another participant, according to the source, criticised the authorities for not taking the residents of Sheikhupura on board about the plan.

The official termed the hearing ‘controlled’ to get the master plan officially approved by the LDA’s governing body headed by the chief minister. “The hearing appeared to be eyewash,” he added.

LDA official says plan to reduce green area of city by ‘only’ 12pc

He further said the core objective of such hearings was to get inputs from all stakeholders, study them and make amendments (if required) in the plans. “But it seemed the hearing was conducted just to fulfil a formality without achieving the real goals,” he deplored.

When contacted, one of the participants, Akbar Sheikh, an urban specialist, said: “I criticised the authorities for not establishing even one wastewater treatment plant in the city.”

He added he also spoke about the Rs80 billion elevated expressway project, and how no funds had been allocated for a wastewater treatment plant.

When contacted, Mr Faisal Qureshi, the LDA director (metropolitan planning wing), dispelled the impression of lack of people’s involvement, claiming there was active participation during the hearing. He further claimed the new master plan would only reduce the green area of the metropolitan city by 12 per cent. “But if we talk about the entire division, only 4-5pc of the total green area will be reduced,” he added.

To a question, the director said although the CM (LDA governing body chairman) had principally approved the master plan in a meeting held in October, he had also directed the authorities to get a public notice published and organise a public hearing on the plan’s EIA.

“I think after approval of the EIA by the environment protection department, the LDA will have to present the master plan again for approval from the governing body,” he maintained.

Talking to Dawn, Environment Protection Director Syed Naseem Shah said invitation to the public for the hearing had been adequately advertised.

“A public notice has to be published in the print media under the law. Even if one person attends the event, it serves the purpose,” he clarified, and claimed several people actively participated in the hearing. Most of them, he added, appreciated the master plan initiative.

Meanwhile, LDA Director General Amir Ahmad Khan, while speaking to the participants of the public hearing, said all stakeholders were bound to comply with the plan.

According to a press release, the DG said many facilities, including road networks, other infrastructure, agriculture, economic and residential activities, transportation, green areas, education and health, had been determined in the master plan. It would be especially useful for all kinds of urban and rural facilities, including environmental protection.

“Special measures have been taken to preserve the historical heritage. Special attention has been paid to solid waste disposal in the master plan,” he claimed.

Responding to a citizen’s complaints about the health issues arising from Hudiara drain, the LDA DG said it would be covered and three wastewater treatment plants installed.

About the urban problems in Sheikhupura district, as shared by a local, Mr Khan said an integrated strategy had been prepared regarding industrial, residential areas and agricultural lands in Sheikhupura and vigorous steps are being taken to block illegal residential schemes.

The DG further said MM Alam Road was being redesigned to make it one-way with a bicycle lane, plantation and a street for pedestrians.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2022