weekIslamabad, Dec 13 (PTI) Pakistan Supreme Court todayordered a cement plant to fill up the historic Katas Rajtemple's pond within a week after reports emerged that it isdrying out due to water consumption by nearby cementfactories, according to a media report.
A three-member Supreme Court bench, headed by ChiefJustice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, is hearing a suo motucase based on media reports that the Katas Raj pond in Punjabprovince is drying out due to water consumption by nearbycement factories, Dawn News reported.
The factories are reportedly draining the pond through anumber of bored wells which have reduced the subsoil waterlevel the created shortages for domestic users as well, itsaid.
Bestway Cement factory is one of the four major cementproduction units located in the area.
In the hearing of the case, the bench expressed angerover the continued absence of Bestway Cement's counsel.
The bench told the Punjab government to provide detailsof the conditions under which the authorities had allowed theconstruction of cement factories in the area.
The court also sought reports on the environmentalpollution factories cause in the area.
The prosecution claims that the cement factories in theKatas Raj temple area have worsened the risks of breast cancerand respiratory diseases among people living nearby due totheir activities.
"We will not allow cement factories to operate at thecost of people's health," the chief justice said.
The apex court had also expressed dismay over the absenceof representations of Hindu deities in the historic Sri Ramand Hanuman temples in the complex and sought an explanationfrom the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) in this regard aday earlier.
The ETPB said the temples were locked up to preventdesecration that might be caused by wild jackals and bats inthe area.
The court was perturbed to learn that Hindu pilgrims whovisited the holy site had to bring their own idols to performtheir rituals, the report said.
The chairman also claimed that no religious services areheld in Shri Ram and Hanuman temples since they arearchaeological sites. The Shiv Ling was present in all templeswhere people come to worship, he said.
The Katas Raj temple is one of the Hindu community's mostwell-known places of worship. The name 'Katas' is derived fromKataksha, a Sanskrit word meaning 'tearful eyes'.
According to legend, the sacred pond was formed afterlord Shiva wept upon the death of his wife Satti. PTI UZM AKJUZM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.