The Punjab Government has unveiled development plan for much-controversial New Murree Project here on Monday over an area of 4,111 acres of state land reserved forest since British times. At a press briefing, Director General New Murree Project Azmat Ali Ranjha and Nespak representative Tahir Shamshad claimed the proposed tourist resort envisaged ecotourism.
The Punjab government after considering four alternate sites in Ban, Barian, Charihan and Patriata eventually selected Patriata for developing a tourist city at an estimated cost of Rs 40 billion to cater needs of 60,000 tourists per day.
Located at the highest point in the Punjab Province (2,223 m), New Murree will be spread over an area of 4,111 acres (about 16 square kilometers) that would include 3,849 acres of Murree Forest Division and 262 acres of Rawalpindi North Forest Division.
Because of their watershed value and highly fragile ecosystem, the forests in Patriata area have been kept in reserve category since British times vide notification No 431 dated October 27, 1886.
The environmentalists have shown grave concern on possible ecological catastrophe because of controversial project being undertaken without no objection certificate from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pepa) or any other independent feasibility body.
The officials were of view that environmental objections were based on pre-feasibility study carried out in 1998 while the present layout plan had rectified all those concerns.
They said the project included golf resort with 18 hole, international standard golf course, 5 star golf resort hotel, golf villas skirting the course, health facilities whereas it would be connected to the town center by monorail.
The town center of resort would be having municipality buildings, hospital, and picnic area and viewing terraces. The Mall would be having specialised shops, restaurants, arts and crafts shops, boutique hotels, one five star hotel, condominium while a four kilometer monorail track would loop around commercial strip connecting the town to the culture complex.
There would be a six star hotel, international standard restaurant health and spa facilities in the international zone, they said. In the cultural complex, there would be an auditorium with seating capacity of 300 people. An amphitheatre with a 500 peoples' seating capacity, an art and craft museum, art galleries and boutique hotel.
The residential complex would have self-contained gates and community with 850 houses varying in size between 2000 to 4500 sq ft.
There would be a nature reserve and bird sanctuary to preserve nature in its original form and allow people to enjoy clean environment in its entire splendor.
An area has been earmarked for camping ground where campers would be provided facilities of internationally accepted standards.
They said building cover would be restricted to less than 15 per cent of project area with entire resort to be in one architectural style following extremely strict building controls.
Over 12.13 per cent of area would be used for residential purpose, 2.73 for commercial purpose, 0.36 for government offices, 14.42 for parks and open spaces and 70.35 per cent would be forest preservation area.
They said only stable ridges with spare population of trees would be used for development.
The commercial center of city would be completely free of vehicular traffic with access only through public transport system such as monorail and cable cars. A state of art public system, at the heart of which would be a circular monorail network operating on electricity would help in keeping emission and noise levels within permissible limits and maintaining higher air quality standards.
All the springs, creeks and other sources of water within the project area would be left untouched to keep ecosystem intact. All wastewater and other effluents would be treated through sewerage treatment plants, they added.
Responding to newsmen queries, they said no new road would be built in the area, only already built tracks would be used.
With out giving technical details, they said 70 per cent of total area laid in Mangla Dam catchments but its effect would only 0.035 per cent. They said out of 59 square miles Simly Dam catchment area, only 0.19 square miles fell in project area. They claimed that to avoid cutting of trees, a unique concept of infiltrated houses, improving existing tracks, minimising need for new roads would be introduced.
They said housing units would be built on raised platforms, so as to allow water to pass underneath. To mitigate the effect on air quality, noise level in the area the parking plazas restricting vehicular movement would be restricted while monorail and cable cars would be run on electricity. There would be ban on vehicles run on diesel inside the project area, they added.
Both officials urged the media to highlight positive aspect of the project. They said they would soon be giving a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee, which earlier raised serious concerns over environmental and ecological aspects of the project.
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