CDA workers cut a huge tree along Ataturk Avenue. PHOTO: ONLINE
Reacting to a complaint lodged, the commission has summoned Capital Development Authority officials to appear before it on October 25 and explain its conduct.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) Information Coordinator Ahsan Kazmi said that the commission’s chairman Justice (retired) Ali Nawaz Chohan has sought an explanation over the large-scale felling.
After briefing the NCHR chairman, the matter will be taken up before the commission on October 30. Explaining why the commission was taking up what was an environmental issue, Kazmi explained that environmental issues are part of the NCHR’s mandate, listed under Section 9 of the NCHR Act 2012.
“Cutting and tearing down of trees is a violation of human rights and should be put to an end,” he said. The NCHR official explained that last month, the commission had taken notice of trees being chopped around Attaturk Road, in Sector G-6 of the capital.
Later news reports appeared about the trees.
The NCHR has already taken notice of the complaint against the cutting of trees around the Attaturk Road, he said.
According to a handout issued by the NCHR, Pakistan has among the lowest forest coverage with only five per cent of the land area under forest and tree cover.
With trees a crucial part of the natural cycle by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, preventing soil erosion, provide building materials and serve as windbreakers, Kazmi said, explaining the reason behind listing them as a fundamental human right.
Meanwhile, CDA Spokesperson Mazhar Husain told The Express Tribune that the trees were being cut as part of a project to build Sixth Avenue near Attaturk Road
“Once the new avenue is constructed, around 2,500 new trees will be planted [to replace the trees which were cut],” he said, adding that the construction is part of the capital’s master plan.
CADD takes notice
NCHR’s notice came a day after Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry sought a report from the CDA on the trees being cut along Attaturk Road.
CDA officials submitted told Dr Chaudhry that the trees were being cut as part of a project to expand Embassy Road.
The project director said that traffic on the road had increased over the past few years, creating a severe problem for commuters with long queues seen.
To ease the pressure of traffic, Embassy Road had to be expanded. Moreover, the master plan contains clear provisions for expanding the road and reasonable space was left along the road for this purpose and trees had been planted on these vacant areas.
The project director refuted the claims from some activists that the expansion was being made on land designated as a green area.
Moreover, he said that expansion plan had been cleared by the Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) since it contains several measures to mitigate the impact on the environment.
Explaining the plan to keep the green cover intact, the CDA official said that for every tree cut for expanding the road, ten new trees will be planted, noting that as many as 2,500 new trees will be planted for the 245 trees which are being cut. Instead of planting small saplings, the CDA environment wing will plant small plants for which budgetary provisions have been made in the PC-I of the project, the official said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2017.
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