In the absence of funds: CDA launches complaint facility on its website

Section currently covers public parks and recreational centres.

ISLAMABAD: For city managers, feedback of citizens should always be a priority and the Capital Development Authority seems to have acknowledged the fact but only partially.

In a bid to streamline complaints procedure for Islamabad’s residents, the authority has added a new feature to its website - a section where complaints and suggestions regarding public parks of the city can be submitted.

Mismanagement of the parks at any level can now be reported to the managers in a relatively hassle free manner. So on the next visit, if there is a problem with the walking tracks, play areas, swings, benches, trimming, fencing or sanitation, complaint or suggestion regarding could be submitted by a citizen from the comfort of his/her home, or better still, from the very spot through a cellular phone with a working internet connection.

By choosing any recently visited park from the options, details of the staffers deputed including their duty timings and contact details can be accessed.

To back up their queries, citizens can also upload pictures describing the nature of their complaints.

“The online complaint system is meant for the citizens to interact with us for a better upkeep of public parks across Islamabad,” CDA Member Environment Ahsan Ali Mangi said adding it would instil a sense of ownership in Islooites.

According to him, around 1247 officials and workers, including horticulture supervisors (park in-charges), gardeners, security guards, and sanitary workers performing duties at 178 CDA administered parks are listed on the website.

“It will be easier for visitors to check if the assigned staffs are present at the park. This can work as an additional system of check and balance in addressing staff inefficiency,” said Mangi.

Besides public parks, seven jogging tracks and fountains, and three library and gyms in various sectors will also be listed in the section.

Explaining the mechanism that will follow an online complaint Mangi said it will be conveyed to administrator of the respective park.

“In case of a minor complaint, it will be addressed at the same day. While in case of a suggestion that requires funds, the high ups of the Environment Wing will follow up on it,” he said.

Though the incumbent officials of the Environment Wing have been working hard, issues pertaining to its funding are a major hindrance in their way.

“The finance wing of the authority released, a comparatively petty, Rs200,000 sum for repairing work of the machinery available with park directorate, after a long duel,” a senior official said adding the amount was released after a staggering lapse of five years.

He also revealed that for the ongoing fiscal year, CDA has not kept even a single penny in its budget for the maintenance of 178 parks.

A set of recommendations pertaining to address allocation and issuance of maintenance funds has been forwarded for approval by the authority’s chairman said the official.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.