Loose rocks: After spending millions, govt parks parking plaza

The plan to built a 12-storey plaza in Jhika Gali was approved in 2008.

RAWALPINDI:

The construction of a parking plaza that was shelved after spending millions of rupees has inflicted huge losses to the national exchequer.

Repeated efforts to stem regular landslides by planting trees failed, and the loss from the exercise amounts to Rs2.5 billion.

A District Forest Department official, requesting anonymity, said a parking plaza in Jhika Gali of Murree Tehsil was initiated by the Punjab Government in 2008 with an estimated cost of Rs1.5 billion.



Hundreds of trees have been felled and millions spent on erecting walls to avert the erosion but after failing to control the process the project was shelved.

He said the project was initiated without an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and proper planning though the consultants had warned them of the consequences.

“There are loose rocks that can hardly support a three-storey building, but the government awarded a contract for construction of a 12-storey plaza anyway,” the official said.

“Efforts are being made to control it by planting more trees, but it will take time to grow, unless they use full-grown trees,” said the official.

It, according to the official, cost the government Rs1 billion in terms of environmental degradation, plantation and subsequent destruction of trees due to landslide and restoration work on the hills.

About 70 per cent of the buildings in the area have been constructed in violations of rules.

The official said most of the hotels belonged to local businessmen. The official also complained that most businessmen have strong political backing. He said if they want to construct a hotel they need to ask us for permission.

“When we give a negative report, they find a way around,” he said. He said National Engineering Services (Nespak) also declared the project unviable and let the provincial government know this. “The government should take notice of encroachments and implement building codes.”

District Coordination Officer Sajid Zafar Dall could not be reached despite many visits to his office. Text messages to his mobile numbers requesting comment also went unanswered.

Minister for Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar could not be reached either.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2014.