Islamabad has about 26 small and large rainwater streams, which pass through different residential sectors and finally converge into two outside the capital city. But these natural streams are now highly polluted, producing stink in dry season, and have become breading place for mosquitoes due to the discharge of domestic waste and leakages of municipal sewers. The polluted rainwater of stream percolates to the underground water reserves and transfers physical, biological and chemical contaminants to it. The level of heavy metal, like lead and cadmium, are also found in high amount as the stream pass through industrial area of I-9 and I-10 sectors, says a CDA official.
The CDA has made several plans for cleaning the streams in the federal capital in the last few years, but they yet not implement it due to which the condition of natural streams is deteriorating day by day. The major damaging factors contributing in the environmental degradation are illegal disposal of sewage into streams, mostly from the slums. The catchments areas of these nullahs have been covered by the slums. The residents of these slums not only throwing waste but also resort to illegal constructions, resulting in shrinking channel of these streams.
The huge amount of pollutants in these nullahs and small size of stream are creating hurdle in the flow of water.
The working of the civic body is seemingly limited to holding a fruitless meeting before every monsoon season for cleaning the natural watercourses. But the CDA authority is unable to materialise the plan, which essential for maintaining the beauty of the federal capital.
The waste accumulated in the streams is hampering a smooth water flow and destroying the environment.
An official said the authority’s relevant directorate had failed to remove dead trees from the streams and repair the broken sewage system besides stopping the illegal disposal of sewage in Bari Imam and other areas, which was one of the main reasons behind the issue.
He said the CDA Environment Wing had not yet launched any campaign to raise awareness among general public about pollution in natural streams passing through the capital, which was causing diseases among the residents. The authority so far made no efforts to eliminate sewage contamination and reduce stream bank erosion and sedimentation, enhance, establish forested riparian buffers and improve water quality and stream stability.
“The pollution of these natural streams passing through the capital has caused serious environmental problems. The CDA must conduct a survey of the ravines and identify the sources of pollution. It should devise biological plan for cleaning and restoration of these watercourses. This will improve and sustain the environment, help curtail and steadily eradicate underground water supply, which consecutively helped prevent diseases like hepatitis and polio from becoming endemics,” he said.
