CNG station in residential area: LHC issues notices to Ogra for May 31

Lahore High Court here Monday stayed construction of a CNG filling station situated in the residential area of Allama Iqbal town and issued notices to Ogra and others respondents in this regard for May 31. The court issued these directions in a petition challenging establishment of CNG stations in residential areas.
The petitioner, a bar member, Muhammad Ashraf Khan, contended that under the LDA Act 1975 and Local Government Ordinance 2001, commercial activities could not be carried out in residential areas. He said the Punjab government and LDA have allowed people to convert residential areas into commercial venues after paying commercialisation fee, which is a violation of rules and regulations. He said he is a resident of 397-Pak Block, Allama Iqbal Town and a CNG station is being set up near his house after demolishing three houses. He revealed that DCO Lahore has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) while permission has also been secured from the ministry of Industries in this regard.
The petitioner apprised that the Environment Department had issued a notification in 2005 under which it was made mandatory to get written permission from the inhabitants of a residential area before setting up a CNG station there. But this condition has also not been fulfilled, he added. He, therefore, prayed to the court to set aside the notification wherein commercial activities have been allowed in the residential areas.