Proposed Pera academy near Kallar Kahar raises concerns over homes, farmland and wildlife

CHAKWAL: A proposed Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority training academy near Kallar Kahar has triggered concern among local residents and wildlife officials after a large tract of land was marked for acquisition, affecting homes, cultivated land and wildlife habitat.

A June 9 letter shows Pera Director General sought the start of land acquisition for what he described as a suitable site in a pleasant hilly area of Kallar Kahar. Following that request, the district administration demarcated 1,568 kanals of land. The selected area includes fertile agricultural land, 20 households, two wildlife breeding farms for urials, chinkaras and partridges, as well as a private game reserve.

The Punjab government has earmarked Rs6,786.27 million for the academy, while Rs10 million has been released in the current financial year.

Residents fear loss of homes and livelihoods

People living in the affected area say the planned acquisition could displace families and damage livelihoods tied to farming and livestock. Raja Mohammad Farooq, one of six brothers who bought 24 kanals of land in 2018, said their homes now face demolition after they built them with financial support from a housing loan scheme.

He said:

We are six brothers who bought land measuring 24 kanals in 2018 and built our houses after getting a loan of Rs3 million from the scheme launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Now our houses are going to be demolished.

Another resident, 62-year-old Ghulam Shabbir of Ratta village, said four acres of his land fall within the demarcated area and warned that losing it would affect both his household food supply and fodder for his cattle.

He said:

I have only four acres of land from where I get wheat and fodder for the whole year. My four acres have fallen in the demarcation. If the proposed training academy is built on my land, how would I get wheat for my family and fodder for my cattle?

Wildlife department questions site selection

The proposed site is also a major habitat for wildlife, prompting concern from those involved in conservation. Malik Mukhtar Haider, who runs a community-based conservancy and two breeding farms in the area, said the project could undo years of conservation work.

He said:

Throughout my life I have been struggling to protect wildlife and natural habitat but the proposed construction of Pera’s training academy has sounded a death knell for my life long struggle.

Officials of the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department also questioned the choice of location. Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Abid Hussain said that the marked land supports a broad range of species, including the rare Punjab Urial, and includes breeding farms along with flora and fauna developed over two decades.

He said:

The marked area is not only a major habitat for different wildlife species including the rare Punjab Urial, it also houses two breeding farms and a flora and fauna which have been developed after a long effort spanning two decades.

Officials say process has moved ahead

PML-N MNA Sardar Ghulam Abbas said he had contacted relevant Punjab government officials and urged them to halt construction on the designated land. However, he said the project now appeared unlikely to be withdrawn because Section 4 had been imposed.

He said:

Unfortunately, the withdrawal of the proposed construction looks impossible now as Section 4 has been imposed.

Deputy Commissioner Sara Hayat said the district administration had proposed three sites, but Pera chose the current one.

She said:

"We have to implement the orders given by the high-ups."