IMC meeting: Rural issues, red tape remain hot topics

Rural water and sanitation woes, delays in transfer of powers strike chord in meeting

ISLAMABAD: The problems of rural Islamabad were the focus of the fourth meeting of the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC).

Since becoming operational, the IMC has not been able to address any of the pre-existing civic problems in rural or urban areas, such as water shortages or road and sewerage issues.

IMC Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz in his remarks strongly criticised the CDA’s collective bargain agent (CBA), saying that the IMC represented over two million residents of Islamabad, and the representatives of 5,000 CDA employees were not listening them. He warned that if CDA employees would not change their attitude, the representatives would be compelled to consider other options.

UC-21 Sohan Deh Chairman Malik Aamir of PTI spoke about issues in rural areas of Islamabad, noting the lack of basic amenities including water, roads, and proper sewerage systems.

Aziz assured the house that new local government would provide all amenities in rural and urban areas without any discrimination. He also said that local government was aware of the problems facing minorities, and a comprehensive plan would be prepared to address the shortage of graveyards in the city.

“IMC sanitation staff now work six-hours every day. They used to work only one hour every day,” Aziz claimed.

The last IMC meeting was held on July 27. Since then, three major public recreation facilities — Fatima Jinnah Park, Lakeview Park, and Marghazar Zoo — which were under CDA management, along with other parks and recreation areas, have been shifted to IMC control.

Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered the transfer of the three larger facilities during a meeting with Aziz, Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and others.

In the previous IMC meeting, Aziz and others blamed the bureaucracy for impeding elected members in exercising their powers.

Treasury and opposition benches were on the same page, denouncing the delay in transferring personnel and machinery from the CDA to the IMC.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2016.