Striving for a ‘cleaner and greener’ Islamabad

Capital Development Authority claims to plant 500,000 saplings as part of National Spring Tree Plantation Campaign.

ISLAMABAD: As part of its ‘Clean and Green Islamabad’ programme, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) claims to plant 500,000 more saplings in different areas of the city. The initiative is part of the National Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2011.

Arrangements were finalised at a meeting at the CDA recently to review progress on the programme.

CDA Chairperson Imtiaz Inayat Elahi told The Express Tribune that the authority was making all-out efforts to increase forest cover and preserve the “green character” of the capital city. He said that since the start of the programme in 2008, the authority has planted 1.540 million plants.

To make the spring tree plantation drive a success, Elahi said, arrangements have been made to launch an awareness campaign so that maximum people can be involved in it. He said that posters, banners and streamers will be displayed in different areas of the city, whereas car-stickers, paper-bags and badges carrying slogans for promoting tree plantation will be distributed. Along with newspapers, the campaign will also be promoted though television and radio talk-shows, he added.

To make the campaign more effective CDA will establish kiosks at prominent places like Jinnah Avenue, Kashmir Highway and the Islamabad Highway, where plants will be provided to the public at subsidies rates. However, if educational institutions demand, CDA will provide them the plants free of cost, Elahi said.

The CDA chairperson said the authority actively participates in the drive every year and involves public, educational institutions, NGOs, government employees and traders “to make such campaigns a success”.

He said the authority has planted 100,000 samplings in urban areas of Islamabad Capital Territory including parks, playfields, green belts along all major avenues and in newly developed sectors G-13, H-11, I-14 and I-16. Elahi said that 300,000 saplings planted have been in regional areas, which include 170,000 saplings near Margallah Hills National Park and 130,000 saplings besides Simly Dam.

CDA is focusing on planting indigenous tree species including Chir Pine, Kachnar, Amaltas, Dhreak and Jacaranda. The focus is also being given to plant fruit plants including edible olive, guava, lokat, pear and jasmine, the CDA chairperson said. Strict monitoring of the planted trees will be carried out to ensure their maximum survival, Elahi added.

Published in The Express Tribune,  February 8^th, 2011.