Infrastructure, water supply top priorities
ISLAMABAD:
By the end of this year, water shortage in the city will be eradicated, said Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, Chairman Capital Deve-lopment Authority (CDA).
He spoke exclusively to The Express Media Group on Thursday, his first interview after the announcement of a budget of Rs22.7 billion for the fiscal year 2010-11.
“There is a plan to pipe large quantities of water from the Tarbela, Ghazi Brotha and Simli dams to Islamabad,” Elahi said.
The Authority plans to ensure 100 per cent treatment of sewerage water and new treatment plants are being installed to increase treatment capacity, he said. A significant chunk of CDA’s 2010-11 budget will be spent to launch the Rainwater Harvesting Programme, aimed at replenishing the underground water table.
Elahi was optimistic that a budget of Rs22.7 billion will be sufficient as there are no mega-projects in the pipeline for 2010-11.
He focused on the new budget during the interview, which emphasises generation of revenue from different sources as well as development of infrastructure and new sectors.
There are plans to construct five parking plazas in major markets, as well as a city centre in Jinnah Super, costing Rs1 million. However, the city centre will take some time to build, as CDA was badly affected by last year’s fund shortage.
Completing the Zero Point Interchange is a priority for CDA and about Rs700 million have been allocated for this.
“A breakthrough has been achieved,” Elahi said of the Interchange, “but some important road projects are yet to be implemented.”
In other development schemes, Rs760 million have been allocated for expansion of Lehtrar Road from Tramari Chowk to Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Rs300 million for development of Sector D-12, Rs250 million for development of F-9 Park, Rs250 million for Capital Hospital, Rs600 million for development of Kuri Model Village and Rs100 million for new public transport buses. A Benazir Bhutto monument will be built at Shakarparian, with assistance from the private sector. Another focus is planting and maintaining indigenous species of trees in the city.
When asked about violations of the city’s master plan, Elahi said the original plan had not visualised future needs.
“This is why certain modifications had to be made to meet emerging needs,” he said, adding that, “Cities like Islamabad are dynamic and can not be confined to master plans.”
Elahi said the Authority will ask Matracon Pakistan Pvt. Ltd. to return Rs25 million to CDA, which was paid for the Faisal Avenue underpass project. However, Matracon did not complete the project and CDA had to do so itself.
Finally, Elahi said he has never shied away from obstacles. “Challenges are a part of life. When one challenge is overcome, another one is waiting,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2010.
By the end of this year, water shortage in the city will be eradicated, said Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, Chairman Capital Deve-lopment Authority (CDA).
He spoke exclusively to The Express Media Group on Thursday, his first interview after the announcement of a budget of Rs22.7 billion for the fiscal year 2010-11.
“There is a plan to pipe large quantities of water from the Tarbela, Ghazi Brotha and Simli dams to Islamabad,” Elahi said.
The Authority plans to ensure 100 per cent treatment of sewerage water and new treatment plants are being installed to increase treatment capacity, he said. A significant chunk of CDA’s 2010-11 budget will be spent to launch the Rainwater Harvesting Programme, aimed at replenishing the underground water table.
Elahi was optimistic that a budget of Rs22.7 billion will be sufficient as there are no mega-projects in the pipeline for 2010-11.
He focused on the new budget during the interview, which emphasises generation of revenue from different sources as well as development of infrastructure and new sectors.
There are plans to construct five parking plazas in major markets, as well as a city centre in Jinnah Super, costing Rs1 million. However, the city centre will take some time to build, as CDA was badly affected by last year’s fund shortage.
Completing the Zero Point Interchange is a priority for CDA and about Rs700 million have been allocated for this.
“A breakthrough has been achieved,” Elahi said of the Interchange, “but some important road projects are yet to be implemented.”
In other development schemes, Rs760 million have been allocated for expansion of Lehtrar Road from Tramari Chowk to Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Rs300 million for development of Sector D-12, Rs250 million for development of F-9 Park, Rs250 million for Capital Hospital, Rs600 million for development of Kuri Model Village and Rs100 million for new public transport buses. A Benazir Bhutto monument will be built at Shakarparian, with assistance from the private sector. Another focus is planting and maintaining indigenous species of trees in the city.
When asked about violations of the city’s master plan, Elahi said the original plan had not visualised future needs.
“This is why certain modifications had to be made to meet emerging needs,” he said, adding that, “Cities like Islamabad are dynamic and can not be confined to master plans.”
Elahi said the Authority will ask Matracon Pakistan Pvt. Ltd. to return Rs25 million to CDA, which was paid for the Faisal Avenue underpass project. However, Matracon did not complete the project and CDA had to do so itself.
Finally, Elahi said he has never shied away from obstacles. “Challenges are a part of life. When one challenge is overcome, another one is waiting,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2010.