CDA failed to protect capital’s environment: audit report

Greenbelts encroached by private organisations, govt depts.; land leased without taking due clearance

ISLAMABAD: The top civic administrator in the capital has failed to effectively protect the environment in the city, or fully implement the master plan – allowing several violations to go ahead unchecked.

According to a report by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), which was recently submitted to the Parliament, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) should adopt a futuristic approach towards an environment of the capital city with a view towards its growing population and other needs of the city.

The report underscores that CDA failed to play its role as a civic and regulatory body efficiently towards the environment of the capital.

Moreover, it should strictly enforce the master plan of the city while ensuring that CDA lands are not encroached on and that land is used strictly in accordance with approved plans.

The AGP’s report found that CDA was supposed to be designated by the Federal Environmental Agency as ‘the government agency’ which conducts environmental impact assessments (EIA) of the plans and to ensure that before building plans are approved, no violation of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 take place.

Further, the report reveals that the CDA failed to devise any regulations or procedures which would ensure that the environment is protected, conserved or rehabilitated. Moreover, it was supposed to improve the environment, prevent and control of pollution, promote sustainable development to ensure that the Pakistan Environment Protection Act is not violated while according various approvals.

The catastrophic failure of the CDA in protecting the environment was highlighted in an incident pointed out by the audit where a forest spread over 122 kanals was grabbed or encroached on, while roads and buildings were also constructed illegally in the reserve forest compartments. This, the audit said, happened primarily because the environment directorate of the CDA failed to protect and conserve the forest’s land.

“Development of katchi abadies along natural streams, storm drains and national park area was not controlled.”

Green belts encroached

Green belts were once the hallmark of the capital – with the city’s greenery and landscaping famed throughout the country. But the CDA has allowed the belt to be encroached by private organisations and even government departments.

The report revealed that the green belt in Sector G-5 is being used for parking – in violation of the master plan of the city. On Ninth Avenue in Sector F-8, the green belt is being used to house an office for the Islamabad Traffic Police.

The audit report said that various departments were using the green area in sectors G-8, G-9 and G-10 for parking cars.

Moreover, CNG and petrol filling stations were established on the green belt along the Kashmir Highway.

Further, kiosks, bus stands and shops were commonly found encroaching green belts between the IJ Principal Road and I-series sectors.

If that was not enough, huge structures have been erected for ‘security’.

“Greenbelts, natural streams and national park area need to be preserved as per approved plan,” the report said. “Commercial activities in greenbelts, national park area should be effectively checked.”

Forest fires

The report highlighted that there were 146 fires in the Margalla Hills From 2009 to 2014. These fires lasted over 575 hours and damaged trees spread over 803.5 acres. Apart from the loss of flora, the fires added to air pollution in the capital.

Despite this, the CDA failed to adopt concrete preventive measures to mitigate the risk of fire nor was the required equipment, trained staff was made available to the authority.

“CDA does not have a proper system for keeping a record of the trees planted during campaigns and taking care, regularly monitoring them to minimise plant mortality,” the report said.

Pir Sohawa restaurants

The AGP’s report discovered that the CDA’s municipal administration directorate had leased out 47,000 square feet of land for building a restaurant at Pir Sohawa without obtaining clearance from the planning wing of the authority.

“The allottee has occupied an area measuring 61,740 square feet. The audit recommends fulfilment of codal formalities under land disposal regulations might ensure in letter and spirit,” the report said, demanding appropriate action.

The report noted that the lapses mentioned in the report that is likely to hamper the existing environment. It recommended that the CDA preempts such incidents and take timely action to prevent these incidents.

“Formations responsible for implementation of rules and regulations need to be made accountable for increasing trend of violations,” it recommended.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2017.