Progressive undertaking: Peshawar may finally get its much-needed facelift
Govt seeks to overhaul, rehabilitate city’s water and sanitation services.
Govt seeks to overhaul, rehabilitate city’s water and sanitation services. DESIGN: ESSA MALIK
PESHAWAR:
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.
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.