SC disposes of Katas Raj suo moto case, directs factories to arrange alternate water

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court on Tuesday disposed of Katas Raj suo moto case while directing cement factories to arrange alternative sources of water within six months and pay for the present water use till then.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar also directed the factories namely Bestway Cement and DG Khan Cement to submit Rs 2 billion as bank security to implement the verdict accordingly.

During course of proceedings, Additional Advocate General, Punjab (AAG) Asma Hamid informed the bench that till the factories arrange alternative sources of water, the provincial government would charge them for their present use of water.

The cement factories assured the Chief Justice that they would build a small dam in the area and outflow of which would be maintained in a way that the pond at Katas Raj was not adversely affected.

The Chief Justice remarked that it was our responsibility to take care of worship places of minorities adding the chairperson of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) should be from the minorities.

The CJP noted that the cement factories would also have to improve the system of smoke exhaust keeping in view the global standards.

It may added that the top court, in November last year, had taken notice of reports that the pond in the Katas Raj temple complex was drying up because cement factories nearby were drawing a large amount of water through a number of sub-soil wells.