LAHORE: Stakeholders raised concerns over the proposed acquisition of their land for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project on Tuesday at a public hearing over project’s Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report by the Environment Department at Alhamra Cultural Complex.

The EIA report was issued by the Lahore Development Authority, and prepared by the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak).

The value of compensation, and government’s ‘misplaced priorities’, were other concerns which a majority of the participants raised at the hearing.

Khalida Shahid, of Nawankot, was worried about the imminent displacement. Her five-marla house, where she has been living for decades with her three daughters, is being acquired for the project.

“Though I’m ready to sacrifice my house for this project, the officials should at least tell me about the compensation and resettlement cost which I’ll be paid,” she said.

Muhammad Ali Tirmizi, another participant, spoke of the lack of information and communication from the government.

He said his property had been marked for acquisition. “I don’t know about rates and whether it’s being acquired per marla DC (district collector) rates as mentioned in the registry or market price,” he added. He said if the property was being acquired as per DC rate, it would be a huge loss to the owners. “I suggest market prices,” he said.

Architect Raza Ali spoke of the safety of historical monuments - Chauburji and Shalamar Gardens - which were also on the project route.

“Pakistan has already received two warnings from international agencies for not protecting the Shalamar Gardens well,” he said, adding that more warnings would pour in if the route was not amended.