Mushahid moves Senate on Margalla Tunnel Project
- September 20, 2013, 7:22 pm
- National News
- 74 Views
Islamabad, Sep 20 (Online): Chairman Senate Defence Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Friday, submitted an Adjournment Motion in the Senate on Margalla Tunnel Project.
The notice is sent under Rule 85 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business 2013, for an adjournment of the business of the House to discuss a definite matter of recent and urgent public importance.
The draft of the motion said that according to reports in the media, on August 23, 2013, at the meeting presided over by the Prime Minister, it was announced that a decision had been taken for “a tunnel through the Margalla Hills to link Islamabad with Haripur to provide a shorter route to commuters of Gilgit- Baltistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad.
This is a matter of urgent public importance since such a tunnel through the Margalla Hills would be in violation of the laws governing the Margalla Hills National Park, which forbids construction or alteration of any kind in and around Margalla Hills." Senator Mushahid stated.
He further said that such a project, which is neither been proposed by the Planning Commission nor sanctioned by the ECNEC or approved by any higher authority including Environment Division and the Environment Protection Agency, would have dangerous implications for the ecology and environment of Margalla Hills National Park and Islamabad and it would not only be illegal but it will be detrimental to the environment of such a beautiful capital as Islamabad, the natural beauty of which would be undermined by such a project.
"As elected representative of the citizens of Islamabad in the Senate, this is a matter of great public importance and it causes a deep concern to the citizens of Islamabad and environmentalists as well. I would kindly request the Honourable Chairman that normal proceedings of the House be adjourned to discuss this matter of urgent public importance since it affects the future of the Federal Capital, Islamabad." Senator Mushahid Hussain concluded.
The press has already criticized this proposed plan and it had reportedly provoked anger and shock among the people residing in the federal capital, one of the beautiful cities in the world.
