Pakistan's Supreme Court today imposed a fine on the Punjab province over its failure to implement its directives to probe reasons behind drying up of the sacred pond in the historic Katas Raj temple complex.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar last year ordered a probe after media reported that the sacred Katas Raj pond, located in Chakwal district of Punjab, was drying up due to merciless exploitation of underground waters by local cement factories.
The court had ordered the provincial government on December 13 to carry out investigation about the factories overusing the subsoil water, but the Punjab government failed to submit the report.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Nisar expressed strong resentment at the failure and imposed a token Rs 1000 fine on the provincial government.
"The pond and the temple at Katas Raj needed restoration," the chief justice said during today's hearing.
He asked the provincial government to decide time period for the cement factories to use the underground water and after that the owners should make alternative arrangements for water supply.
He said the court wanted to resolve the issue of water problem for the sacred pond permanently.
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 Satti
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.
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