Pak SC concludes Katas Raj case; orders cement company to deposit Rs 10 crore as fine

Pakistan's Supreme Court Monday ordered a cement company to deposit Rs 10 crore into its dam fund for using underground water that lead to rapid drying up of the 'sacred pond' at the Katas Raj temple complex - considered sacred by Hindus.

The apex court started suo motu proceeding in November last year after media reported that extensive exploitation of underground water by cement factories located near the historic Katas Raj temple in Chakwal district of Punjab was drying up the 'sacred pond'.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar already had banned the use of underground water by cement factories to save the pond. While in its hearing on Friday, the court also ordered authorities to refill the pond even by using water tankers.

Concluding the case on Monday, the court ordered DG Khan Cement company to deposit Rs 10 crore into the Supreme Court Dam Fund, including Rs 8 crore as payment for water utilised and Rs 2 crore penalty for misleading the court.

The chief justice has set up a fund to collect money for crowd-funding construction of two big dams in Pakistan.

The Katas Raj temple complex in Chakwal district of Punjab is considered sacred by Hindus and cement companies in the area were held responsible for drilling boreholes and utilising groundwater, which eventually led to a drop in sub-ground level water and drying up of a sacred pond present at the temple site.

On November 15, the court formed an inspection committee to probe the veracity of claims by the cement factories.

In Monday's hearing, the committee submitted its report to the bench.

The cement factory had told the court that it was using stored rainwater but it was not true, according to report by a probe committee.

Locals blamed the cement plants, which, they said, drilled a number of water-bores in the vicinity of the temple, to draw water for their industrial production.

Chief Justice Nisar said that DG Cement claimed to have stored rainwater, but this was a lie since they had actually obtained groundwater.

During an earlier hearing, Justice Nisar had observed that the cement factories caused damage to the environment by using up the area's water as well as causing air pollution.

"The people who are not doing anything for water are not sincere with this country; those taking no measures for water (provision) are enemies of this country," he said.

The chief judge during earlier proceedings also pulled up the government official including a former secretary of industries for allowing the factory to operate and causing damage to environment.

Dedicated to Hindu god Shiva, the Katas Raj temple complex originally housed a cluster of seven ancient temples, along with a Buddhist stupa and the home of a warrior - built between 6th and 13th century.

The name 'Katas' is derived from Kataksha, a Sanskrit word meaning 'tearful eyes'. According to legend, the pond was formed after Lord Shiva wept upon the death of his wife Sati.

Hindu pilgrims from around the world visit the Katas Raj temple during the Maha Shivratri festival and bathe in the 'sacred pond'. Some believe the water holds healing powers.

BJP leader L K Advani during his trip to Pakistan in 2005 also visited Katas Raj and inaugurated conservation work being carried out by the government of Pakistan.