| Murree: Misc Articles, Pictures, Videos & links of interest |
| July 2003 LHC moved to save Murree from human catastrophe By Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD: A group of citizens on Friday moved to the Lahore High Court to save the picturesque hills of Murree from a possible human catastrophe because of growing danger of landslides that are haunting the locals owing to heavy constructions, ruthless deforestation and massive quarrying. The LHC has been told that there is an immediate threat to the life and property of the Murree'ites whereas the stability of this beautiful hill station is really endangered. Advocate Athar Minallah, on behalf of four petitioners, including Saima Ameen Khawaja, filed a constitutional petition before the LHC Rawalpindi Bench seeking halt to all mega housing schemes and other construction work in Murree, which violate the local municipal by-laws and environmental checks. Several Tehsil, district and provincial offices and agencies have been made respondents in the petition that encompasses references from a number of reports, prepared by both local and foreign experts, about the vulnerability of Murree Hill. The LHC, while hearing the petition on Friday, issued notices to all respondents, directing them to furnish their reply on the next date of hearing i.e. July 24. The petitioners have sought the indulgence of the LHC in public interest as they say that they are deeply concerned about the imminent threat to life and property within the jurisdiction of the Murree Tehsil Municipal Administration due to the apathy, negligence, corrupt practices, flagrant violations of law and nepotism by the concerned authorities. The petition said that the Murree spur, geologically, is composed of relatively young and geo-morphologically fragile rocks, with hard grey-to-reddish sand stone, and predominantly inter bedded with soft and purple red calcareous shale. "These rocks have highest tendency towards landslide and related phenomenon particularly in the presence of high precipitation," says the petition. The geological, topographic and climatic conditions ie immature geology, highly erodable soils and rocks, steep and irregular slope and intense monsoon rainfall, active freeze and thaw etc have made Murree as one of the worst slide-affected area. However, the extensive human activities during the past three decades, inter alia, deforestation and illegal construction has rapidly aggravated the situation threatening the life and property of the people living there. During the last three decades, it is said, there has been a sharp increase in the destruction caused by landslide due to soil erosion and degradation. The studies conducted by various reputable institutions, however, do not show any evidence that natural factors have contributed to accelerate land sliding. It, however, conclusively establish that the major reason for accelerated land sliding is the ecological and environment imbalance caused by humans, which is continuing unabated due to the mala fide, collusion, criminal neglect, flagrant violation of law and apathy of the concerned authorities. Referring to a report prepared by Swiss experts, the petition said that the fact-finding mission had warned even in 1988 that the damage to Murree was extensive and already beyond repair and if urgent measures were not taken to control the persistent and unabated damage, it inevitably would lead to colossal loss and damage to life and property. Referring to a recent report prepared by 10 Corps, Rawalpindi of the Pakistan Army, the petition says that this geo-technical report even emphasised that Pakistan's premier hill resort was hit by the phenomenon of "Creep" and that it was faced with the imminent threat of dangerous consequences. |
| The rape of Murree Masood Hasan July 2003 The writer is a Lahore-based columnist and a well-known journalist A few summers back, having made the cardinal mistake of stopping at Lintotts Murree for tea and sandwiches, we instead got Chicken Boti served on greasy plates, while we gingerly perched on grubby and grease-infected seats covered with last year's grime. There were no cucumber sandwiches within a few hundred miles of what was once Pakistan's pristine hill station. And asking, "Is there honey still for tea?" would have elicited loud burps from the shady customers Lintotts was playing host to. The pillage of Murree has been swift and brutal and one is not referring to thin sandwiches served on a lazy afternoon with steaming cups of fresh coffee, while the Mall looks like a picture with swirls of mist floating by. Because we are fundamentally a society that only knows how to destroy, we have all colluded in destroying Murree. We, the silent and hopeless educated classes with connections and the power and opportunity to make ourselves heard, have instead chosen to remain dumb - like we do in most things that concern us. The evil nexus of estate agents, property developers, greedy commercial enterprise owners, corrupt officials, obsessed with minting money, violators of all our fragile laws and bye laws, administrators from the lowest to the highest who are a party to illegal and environmentally-degrading plans and schemes - all of them are guilty of the slaughter of Murree. Every law seems to have been flagrantly violated. Officials have been bribed easily, have either joined hands in the loot or at best, looked the other way. Construction in Murree has galloped ahead in the last three decades, without let or hindrance. In spite of dozens of warning signals, reports, proposals and documents, construction has not stopped for a day and chopping of the great pines and other trees that stood guard in the hills of Murree has been ruthless and systematic. Everything that is bad has flourished here. The proliferation of shanty huts passing off as guesthouses and hotels has gone on regardless. These tin-monstrosities of cheap design and even cheaper construction have gone on, regardless of the laws. Most construction, it is now safe to say, has taken place without the formality of an approval by the 'concerned' authority, which as we all know from bitter experience is never, ever concerned unless it smells money on the side. The apathy, negligence, corruption and dereliction of duty by hundreds of officials at the tehsil, district and provincial level has finished Murree off swiftly. While a ban was imposed by the toothless Punjab government in August 2002 on further construction unless the authorities approved the plans and building materials, it has been a farce and not an order, because in their haste to plunder and make money, these mild and tepid instructions have simply been ignored or treated with the contempt such inane orders deserve. The mafia of developers, both individuals and companies, has far too much clout and money to worry about some silly legislation. Instead it has only speeded up the illegal building activity in the hills. Of course calling it hills is a bit of a joke because there are hardly any left. Every inch of land has been carved up and entire forests have been decimated. The swaying sounds of pines and that heavenly fragrant scent that wafted down as you climbed the last few miles to Murree proper, have been replaced by diesel fumes, smells of rotting garbage and the incessant blaring of pressure horns and the collective noise of grubby humanity as it heads up earnestly or returns hurtling towards the plains. Garbage piles or simply washes down with each rainfall into the valleys below. The roads are littered with bottles, wrappers, shoppers, leftovers of meals and every other kind of trash that mankind can produce with such astonishing regularity. As early as 1988, reports - in this case made by the Swiss who know a thing or two about hill stations, warned that the game was up for Murree. It said that the damage was extensive and already beyond repair and unless urgent measures were taken, there would be catastrophic loss of life and property in the years to come. The only urgent measure that this report elicited was to have it chucked into the nearest dustbin. Now, increasingly, landslides are threatening this hill station and since the soil here is highly erodable, deforestation, illegal and wanton construction and gross negligence have turned the threat into disaster that's round the corner. It is already beginning to happen and it is only a matter of time before entire hillsides, lock, stock and barrel will tilt over and plummet down the slopes, carrying with them the greater Murree, the pride and joy of this country. Thousands will die of course, but that's not a big deal since human life is pretty cheap in these parts. A group of citizens, obviously not of sound mind, have moved the High Court to save Murree from complete destruction. It has presented compelling and rational arguments to back up its case and prayed to the court to take immediate action. It has drawn attention to the unfolding of yet another 'mega' project, Cecil Silver Apartments at the site of the old Cecil Hotel and have warned that the site cannot take the burden of such a multistory building. Needless to add that the construction and large scale felling of trees has already started in full swing although the scheme has not been officially passed. This should not surprise anyone including their lordships in their chambers, but three days ago the case was due for its second hearing. I wouldn't hold my breath. What it will mean is another adjournment and another till the project is a living and ugly reality and to hell with the consequences. Perhaps the brain dead people who read this column can move an! other public appeal, one that might reach the exalted ear of our President who might even see it if he has recovered from what must now be, perpetual jetlag. Murree may not be the greatest hill station in the world - I personally can no longer stand it, but it is the only one we have but it also is clear that we are hell bent to destroy it. Those places that are hard to reach are somewhat safe but those within striking distance don't stand a chance. Kalam in Swat is already dead and Saif ul Maluk in Kaghan is facing a plastic shopper war that's polluted its aquamarine lake and is swiftly killing the fish. Now all the lake has, is garbage and human debris. In the meantime, I have panicked to read a statement from his lordship the Punjab Minister for Tourism, Mian Muhammad Aslam flanked by his most loyal deputy, the PTDC Managing Director, Rais Abbas Zaidi, that they are developing Fort Munro in southern Punjab, "on the pattern of Murree." Dear God up above show us some mercy. What is Fort Munro's fault for deserving the same gory end that's been handed out to Murree? At 6470 feet, it lies forgotten and isolated at least three hours from Multan and certain death. Now, the good Minister and his squad of developers are going to lay siege to this fort that's survived so far. Can a superior power stop this wonderful development or shall we simply go along with what Confucius reportedly said, "When rape becomes inevitable, lie back and enjoy." |
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| Say "No!" to the New Murree Project (aka Environmental Nightmare) |
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| Over the top (Aug 2005) Murree on stilts Masood Hasan Well folks all our fears were after all, unjustified. There we were -- well some of us, crying and hollering, about the mother of all catastrophes that was descending on our blighted lives in the curiously misshapen New Murree Project and then just as suddenly, there is peace and tranquillity. Our fears have been gently put aside. Earlier, in Islamabad, the National Assembly's Standing Committee, which was actually sitting, not standing, had planted the kiss of death on the project. Saying that it would cause havoc to the country's climate, environment and drastically affect snowfall and water reserves, not to mention landslides with entire communities getting washed away like garbage heaps, the Committee had raised a red alert on the project. Even the President's website had General Musharraf, for once present in the country, declaring that the Committee had given its verdict, meaning a big "no" to this disaster. Columns, letters, TV programmes and conservationists were tearing their hair out and no one could quite understand why the Punjab government was hell bent on shoving this controversial project through, at the speed usually associated with space rockets. Then truth dawned, much like the sunshine of Parha Likha Punjab, which has now cast a celestial glow over the province reportedly seen by the astronauts 22 miles up. The Chief Minister, who dreamt of this new hill station, resting between building the 21st underpass in Lahore and bailing out rain water from the other 20, immediately called a high level meeting in Lahore to settle the issue. In Lahore, all meetings are high level. During floods or after a rain soak, the meetings go under water. In this meeting, where the bureaucrats outnumbered the waiters, all doubts, fears and misconceptions about New Murree were laid to rest. The police are still figuring out who laid New Murree. The CM assured everyone, who were already assured, that the project was unique in terms of its sensitivity to matters ecological. He said that not a single tree would be touched. As for mudslides, falling water reservoirs, pollution, littering and all the ills that go with conventional development, it was nonsense. Designed to cater to 60,000 tourists a day -- that took everyone's breath away and they are still looking for it, New Murree was going to be the envy of every country. A few days later, still having no formal approval of the project from the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, laughingly referred to as PEPA or "Hollow Drum" as it is called lovingly and without waiting for the National Assembly Standing Committee, the shining new Managing Director of New Murree, Mr. Ranja, held a one to one press briefing. He did all the talking, as is the style these days. What he declared has sent a wave of joy and exhilaration through the entire land. Even Ardeshir Cowasjee, the angry Karachi columnist, has been celebrating non-stop for the last five days and nights. Said Mr. Ranja -- no relation of the celebrated folklore lover, that the world's highest ecological standards had been put into operation while designing this mega tourism haven spread over 4111 acres of forestland, high in the forests of Patriata. He said that the Rs40 billion project would consist of a five-star golf hotel, an 18-hole international standard golf course, golf villas and more caddies than you'd find in Augusta and St. Andrews. He added, in breathless excitement, that the resort would consist of municipality buildings, a hospital, picnic areas, viewing terraces, restaurants, boutiques, hotels and a five star hotel on the new Mall. A cultural complex with 300 seats, an amphitheatre with 500 seats, an art and craft museum, art galleries galore and another hotel -- a boutique hotel, no less will be there as well. At least 850 modern houses will rise here ranging between 2000 to 4500 square feet he added. And readers behold, all of this will be connected with a monorail high in the sky. Now if this is not the world's newest wonder, what is? You see, not a single tree will be cut, which is very clever. The New Murree with all the above and more buildings, roads and pavements, will be built in such a way that not a single tree will be touched. In other words, houses would be built between, around and through pine trees -- which should be a wonder of the modern world. Hey Dubai, eat your heart out. The monorail will simply skirt around the trees, the golf course will meander through pines and golfers will simply have to learn to hit curving balls. Maybe Tiger Woods can come and coach here. With a surname like his, he would be right at home. Since each tree has already been crucified with steel plates and spikes driven into the trunk, the "trees are safe" declaration of the developers has brought tears to the eyes of us sinners, who doubted these angels of good deeds. The suggestion by some wags that the trees have been numbered so that it will be easy to chop them, is nonsense. Similarly, demands that "Nespak" be named "Napak" have been withdrawn. As for the loonies in the IUCN and elsewhere who were groaning about 25% decline in snowfall and dried up water channels, well here's mud in your eye. Nespak will build all the structures on stilts so that snowfall and rainwater flows freely down below which is the best news I have heard since the news about Ch. Rehmat Ali's impending arrival. This is a brilliant move? Nayyar Ali Dada who questioned the practicality of such a scheme and its high costs, was told to take a walk, which he did. He hasn't been heard from since. Even the President's website has deleted the offending attitude it had earlier displayed towards this wonderful, uplifting project. And now for the 60,000 tourists for whose pleasure the Punjab Government has taken so much flak. It is well understood that already there is a rush on bookings all over the world to make a beeline for New Murree. Where K-2, the fabled 8,000 metre peaks, the Hunza Valleys, the Khunjerab Pass, the stunning vistas of Pakistan's great north, the Khyber Pass, ancient civilizations that span from one end to another, the forts that criss-cross the land from NWFP to Karachi, the majestic sweep of the Punjab plains, the cultural rhythms of Lahore and other parts of Punjab, the far flung valleys of Azad Kashmir, the great Cholistan Desert, the UCH ruins, the mighty swathe cut by the Indus river -- where all these have failed miserably over the years, the Punjab Government's New Murree will be the exception. Stand back folks as millions of tourists flock here by plane, bus, rail, camel and ship. Let them stand in awe and behold New Murree, a fully developed hill resort amidst 1.6m trees. Objections aside, the game plan is this: Just roll along. Once the buildings go up and the trees come down, no one will be able to stop anything, anyway. An outgoing German diplomat is reported to have said, "This is simply outrageous." Later it was discovered that he was commenting on his dog having run off with a local lass, not New Murree. The writer is a Lahore-based columnist. Email: [email protected] |
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| Once upon a Hill by Fareeha Rafique |
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| Once upon a Hill by Fareeha Rafique |
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| Once upon a Hill by Fareeha Rafique |
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| Once upon a Hill by Fareeha Rafique |
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| Review: Mystique of Murree |
| New! Play Video "Murree: Churches & Chapels" |