Islamabad, Nov 19 (TNS): The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday concluded the Katas Raj case and ordered D.G. Khan Cement Company Limited to deposit Rs100 million into the SC Dam Fund — Rs80m as payment for water utilised by the factory and a Rs20m penalty for attempting to mislead the apex court.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar issued the directives at the SC Lahore Registry while hearing a suo motu case initiated following media reports that the Katas Raj temple pond — considered sacred by Hindus — was drying out.
During earlier hearings of the case, the bench had been told that nearby cement factories had sucked up large quantities of groundwater through a number of drill bores. The bores had severely reduced subsoil water levels and affected water usage of domestic users, as well as causing the pond’s water levels to drop.
