Mayor says ready to meet PM Imran to resolve capital’s issues

Defends IMC’s efforts to keep capital clean, cites a shortage of funds and manpower


​ Our Correspondent March 11, 2020
PHOTO: INP

ISLAMABAD: With the mayor of the federal capital facing a tough time from the incumbent government, the elected head of the city’s local government system on Tuesday said that he is ready to hold crunch talks with the prime minister at ‘any time’ to sort out the issues of the city.

This was stated by the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz on Tuesday while inaugurating a cleanliness drive in the city.

With the drive launched on court directives, Aziz was asked about the problems faced by his administration. He said that IMC’s Sanitation Department has been playing a major role in keeping the city clean despite the host of issues they face including a shortage of funds, manpower, and machinery.

The mayor pointed out that last year, the government slashed around 40 per cent of the department’s budget which certainly affected their performance.

PM Imran asked to settle CDA, IMC dispute

Citing one example, he said that a file for chlorinating water being supplied to the federal capital has become a shuttlecock between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the IMC.

Lamenting that the cleanliness situation in the city had deteriorated in recent months owing to a paucity of funds, Aziz assured that the matter will be resolved soon.

With members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) openly attacking the mayor for his poor performance, even going as far as to set up a special local government commission led by a former opposition member of the IMC, Aziz said that he is ready to meet with Prime Minister Imran Khan at any time for the resolution of problems faced by the federal capital.

CDA seeks suggestions on public toilets

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday sought suggestions from the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) regarding the requirements and locations for setting up public toilets in the city.

Moreover, a comprehensive plan has also been sought from the IMC for channelization of and cleanliness of the nullahs (storm drains) flowing through different parts of the city.

A meeting in this regard was held at the CDA Headquarters on Tuesday which was attended by Member Engineering, Member Planning, Member Finance, IMC Chief Officer and other concerned officers of CDA and IMC.

During the meeting, it was decided that the corporation will provide a detailed report, containing the detailed site requirement for the construction of public toilets at the earliest.

Subsequently, CDA, in consultation with IMC, will identify spots around the city per requirements within a week. The land requirements will then be placed before CDA’s Board, which is expected to meet next Monday, for approval.

Once approved, these sites will be handed over to the IMC for construction of new public toilets.

Upgrading: MCI working to modernise rural areas

The meeting further decided to immediately clean and channelise nullahs flowing through the city. In this regard, maps and other details of nullahs were presented in the meeting by IMC’s Sanitation Directorate.

The meeting further agreed on the construction of check dams at appropriate locations, including at Saidpur and other such places. Moreover, it was agreed that a survey will be undertaken of houses to determine whose sewage was being dumped into the natural streams.

The meeting agreed that a comprehensive plan will be prepared within a week in this regard so that work on cleaning the nullahs can commence at the earliest.

Moreover, instructions have been issued to ensure the availability of required funds in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2020.

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