Govt seeks to overhaul, rehabilitate city’s water and sanitation services. DESIGN: ESSA MALIK
The provincial government has chalked out a plan for a ‘greener’ and ‘cleaner’ Peshawar, a city that has been subjected to two decades of violence and where the population has nearly doubled since 1998.
A committee, being coordinated by Investment Promotion Cell head Rafaqatullah Babar, was constituted for the purpose. MPAs of the city and department heads handling civic facilities are members of
the group.
“Peshawar is our face and we must make it look beautiful,” said Babar, adding the plan named Greener & Cleaner Peshawar is on track. Babar said there are numerous issues that need to be dealt with and initial meetings are meant to address these hitches.
He further said a few roads connecting the main city with Hayatabad are being considered, and the need to widen existing streets and roads was also being examined.
“The government is separately considering engaging international consultants for advice on the mass transit system in the capital city,” said Babar, adding main roads are yet to be connected through arteries and link roads for public convenience. “Traffic management is yet another issue related to public well-being and a new traffic system is on the cards.”
“Development of old public parks and a survey for new parks and green belts is a major part of the project,” he added, while explaining the plan’s green initiative.
Babar also claimed water drainage and sanitation had been poorly addressed in the past. “The three sewer plants located in Hayatabad, Charsadda and Hazarkhwani never worked and we are planning to rehabilitate them and connect them to house drainage systems.”
Babar explained the biggest issue remains the disposal of solid waste. He said this problem would be outsourced in order to reach the project’s aims.
“We also need to take a second look at building by-laws, environment protection laws and their enforcement,” asserted Babar. “The government will also get experts’ view on the formulation of new laws regulating pollution and commercialisation.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (9)
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Cleanliness is half of our faith and it is way better than building just one flyover. A lot of people are also dying because of living in dirty enviormen. Perhaps more than the violence in KPK. This is a great step by kPk Government. Now we are thinking like develop nations. Basic necessities need to be met before big flyovers.
Having clean and presentable surroundings where we live and work is ever so essential, specially as a Muslim it is part of our faith. I strongly wish somebody think the same about our city Mansehrah where first thing when you enter the city or residential area you witness is the big pile of rubish all along the road. Not to forget the open nala of dirty water.
On your face ET !! ahoo
Excellent steps & also neeed laws to ensure Peshawar Clean & Green in Future Also... Kiss you IK, All PTI Govt. PTI Workers & Volunteers. Keep it up.
Haters will only be silenced when the actual projects are completed. So PTI people please focus on goals, and forget about critics.
Haters still gonna hate!
Well done PTI.