LAHORE – The Lahore High Court ruled on Friday that it was mandatory to plant at least two trees for the construction of a new house.
The provincial high court issued the verdict on a petition related to controlling environmental pollution in the country and remarked that in case of non-compliance, the no-objection certificate of such housing societies and factories will be revoked.
“The Secretary Cooperative and Registrar Cooperative shall issue directions to the housing societies and authorities for (i) planting at least two (2) trees in the green belt in front of each house mentioning in their allotment letters and bye-laws of the society (ii) impose heavy penalties and punishments for cutting the same at least Rs.25,000/- per tree and to (iii) monitor the trees through respective officers of the society/authority. The treatment and maintenance of the trees will be the sole responsibility of the society/authority concerned,” the judgment issued by Justice Jawwah Hassan read.
The court directed the concerned authorities to impose heavy fines on those involved in deforestation and directed all the departments to issue an annual report on tree plantation.
Trees would be planted in educational institutes, hospitals, parking areas and public places, read the 78-page judgment.
The court also appreciated the officers who appeared before the bench as well as the government departments for this year’s ‘massive tree plantation’.
