CEMENT COMPANIES IN PAKISTAN AGREE TO SPARE KATAS RAJ WATER

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday wrapped up the hearing of a suo moto case regarding a drastic fall in the level of the sacred pond at Katas Raj temple after cement factories located near the shrine agreed to find an alternative water source and to pay for water they use until then.

In November 2017, the Supreme Court had taken notice of media reports that said the pond at the Katas Raj temple complex was drying up because the cement factories were drawing a large amount of water through a number of bore wells.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, had been hearing the case. During earlier proceedings, the court had ordered the federal and Punjab governments to form a special committee of experts to save the fabled prehistoric Hindu temple.

On Tuesday, Bestway Cement and DG Khan Cement proposed they would submit Rs 2 billion as a bank guarantee until they are able to find an alternative source of water. They also made a commitment to build a small dam in the area, the outflow of which will be maintained in a way that the pond at Katas Raj is not adversely affected. They also proposed to pay the government of Punjab province for the water they use until then.

The court said the pond should be filled through natural means, noting the water level in the area would rise once water pumps at the factories are shut down.