CDA, civil society to preserve green belts

CDA has decided to install small sewage treatment plants to deal with water pollution.

ISLAMABAD:

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will partner with civil society to work towards saving the character and identity of Margalla Hills National Park as well as preserving the green belts, waterways, parks and historic sites in the city.

This was resolved in a meeting between CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal and a delegation of the Islamabad Citizens Alliance (ICA) here on Saturday. The delegation included President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Shaban Khalid, Rotary Club President Imran Shaukat, Institute of Architects Pakistan President Jahangir Khan and Islamabad College for Boys (ICB) Alumni Association President Naeem Murtaza.

The delegation stressed the need to develop workable solutions to deal with issues created by slums and encroachments built by businesses, schools and mosques. It was agreed that the CDA would work with the ICA to prevent encroachment to ensure maintenance of the original plan and identity of the capital.

The CDA chairman said that the authority was considering preparing its annual budget in consultation with civil society representatives. Afzal said the CDA was planning to set up one-stop facilitation centres in various parts of the city. He said that this will help city residents deposit and collect documents in the centers in their area instead of travelling all the way to the CDA Headquarters.

The CDA chairman added that they were working to construct special underground parking facilities to ease congestion in commercial centres. He said that the CDA had decided to install small sewage treatment plants to deal with water pollution.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2014.