SHC again restrains work on Clifton flyover project

[Salman]

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday once again restrained Bahria Town from carrying out construction work on a flyover and two underpasses near Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine in Clifton area of the port city.

Justice Munib Akhtar, who headed a single bench, announced the verdict on a lawsuit of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) against the construction of a flyover and two underpasses in Clifton by the private property developer for not having Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the projects.

Justice Akhtar, while allowing the application of DHA, ordered that all construction in relation to the project is restrained and stopped immediately.

He directed Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to obtain a mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA) report from Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) on the project.

The bench also directed Sepa to prepare EIA report strictly in accordance with law and adhering to the environmental laws on top priority basis. It said that if EIA is approved KMC shall be at liberty to move an appropriate application in this suit to recall and vacation of the interim order issued by the court.

Pakistan Defence Officers Housing Authority had filed the lawsuit against the flyover and underpasses project for allegedly being built without complying with the requirements of environmental protection laws and getting approval from concerned authorities.

Issuance of IEE by Sepa was contrary to law and such approval cannot permit to execute the instant projects, the SHC judge argued.

Earlier this month, the single bench had granted stay order against the construction of the project but such interim order was later suspended by the SHC division bench on appeal filed by the Bahria Town.