LED streetlight project: CDA official removed for not satisfying top planners

The official was a key player in the Rs8b project.

ISLAMABAD:

In a surprise move, Member Engineering Abrar Shah, one of the key players in the controversial Rs8 billion Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlight project, was removed from his office on Thursday.

The multi-billion-rupee plan involved the replacement of 65,000 conventional streetlights with LED lights, which generally cost significantly more than normal lights and have lower operational costs, longer life, and are more environment friendly.

Official sources in the civic body’s engineering directorate said that Shah was unable to satisfy Planning Commission about the feasibility and transparency of the project. A top official of the commission said that the commission raised several objections over the project during preliminary presentations, adding that such an expensive project was not feasible for the capital city.

Following Shah’s removal, Director General Water Management Wing Sanaullah Aman, who also happens to be Iqbal’s classmate in college, has been given the additional charge of member engineering. CDA spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said Shah’s removal has nothing to do with the LED project.

“He was removed as he wasn’t suitable for the job since he is not a civil engineer, while 90% of CDA’s work is of civil nature,” said Sajid. Shah who was recently promoted to member engineering, was the first electrical engineer to be appointed to the post.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2012.