Lahore: The Lahore High Court has directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to draft a policy for mandatory plantation of trees in housing societies, according to a news source.
The court was hearing a public interest petition on environmental pollution due to the loss of tree cover. Justice Jawad Hussian remarked that the government should not issue housing societies their NOCs unless they implement the mandatory tree plantation policy.
The judge further said that even the residents of the housing societies should only be allowed construction with the mandatory plantation of at least two trees on each plot.
In his arguments, the petitioner’s counsel had maintained that Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala are turning into some of the most polluted cities in the world due to the installation of industrial units in residential areas. He had also accused EPA of not taking action on the matter.
Meanwhile, a report submitted by EPA stated that during the past five months, 19 brick kilns and 489 metal melting units had been sealed, while 57 FIRs were registered against the culprits.
The report also noted that 25,313 trees had been planted during the same time under the Clean and Green Pakistan Initiative.
The court also directed Secretary Environment and DG EPA to take action against industrial units in residential areas and submit a report on May 30.
