—The premier had given 90 days to CDA to remove encroachments and other issues in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: After spending a hefty amount on advertisements, little has been achieved by the city managers to give a ‘new look’ to the capital within the given time of 90 days (January 9 to April 8) by Pakistan PM, as almost all encroachers have emerged again, it has been learnt. Additionally, about 50 percent street lights are still out of order in the city.
In January this year, the mayor said that through media releases and public notices, we have warned all encroachers to remove their encroachments within three days or face operation. But the efforts have been to no avail. After dozens of operations by enforcement directorate in which the authority bulldozed some huts and kiosks, removed encroachments, grounded many illegal sheds, and confiscated a major lot of material, but the present situation of G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11, F6, F-7, F-8, F-10, F-11 and sector I-8, I-9 and I-10 are now business as usual.
“It has been observed that most street lights of the expressway to zero point, lights on IJP road, and lights in most streets in sectors I-9, 10, G-14 are off due to technical faults which CDA has not bothered to rectify. If you ask the authority they will say “we react on complaints” but the fact is more than sixty percent of citizens do not even know the complaint number, said Imran Nazir, a resident of Sector G-7.
“Earlier, only three percent of the 40,000 streetlights were functioning as no attention was paid towards these issues in the past; however now almost 50 percent lights are functional,” said CDA Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz.
He said that MCI had successfully tendered and awarded a contract for the installation of new lights to replace faulty ones at a lower rate, but then the contractor tried to install sub-standard lights; the tender will now be reissued, he said.
“On the directions of PM, the authority had started anti-encroachment operation during which many targets were achieved. Unfortunately, all encroachers have emerged again,” he said, adding that the authority is mulling for some new policies under which encroachers will be given a very tough time.
It is pertinent to mention here that at present, the condition of all the 200 public parks, with exception of a few, is also in shambles.
Sources said that CDA may again face the displeasure of PM Nawaz, and this time, not only will 4 officials be removed from their seats but the mayor and members of the authority could face consequences too.
Earlier, the prime minister expressed his displeasure over the performance of the CDA, particularly in regards to the non-functional streetlights in the city.
The premier had also shown disappointment with CDA over the inefficient system for sanitation, including garbage collection and disposal, the poor state of footpaths and roads, especially in small markets, growing encroachments and the invisibility of horticultural activities.
Earlier this year, the PM, in a strongly worded letter, chided the CDA, subsequently suspending four officials of the civic agency.
