CDA halts all mega projects for Shakarparian

[Salman]

ISLAMABAD, July 4: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to indefinitely halt all future mega projects that had been planned in the past five years under the previous PPP regime for the protected hills of Shakarparian.

The directions were given by CDA Chairman Nadeem Hassan Asif, who took charge of the civic body last month. A notification issued in this regard stated that a complete ban had been imposed on all constructions in Shakarparian hills which fall under the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP).

According to a source in the CDA, the notification was issued after environmentalists and non-government organisations (NGOs) urged the CDA in writing last month to protect the Shakarparian hills.

Nearly half a dozen mega projects were either being constructed or were in the conception stages, and had been planned in the past five years.

CDA’s plans in collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to construct two cricket stadiums (for which the land had been allotted), a polo club and a golf course were all shelved after Wednesday’s notification. Similarly, the extension of the 7th Avenue and its connection with the Murree Road, and the widening of the Garden Avenue which zigzags past the Lok Virsa have also been stopped indefinitely.

Sources in the CDA said that although the construction work on Islamabad Cultural Complex (a CDA project) had stopped four years ago due to shortage of funds, any possible progress on this particular initiative had been stopped after the notification. The Arts and Crafts Village, also situated in the Shakarparian hills, was the only project which had been completed in the past five years.

CDA’s Asia Gull, who has the additional charge to respond to the media’s questions, confirmed that all future projects in Shakarparian hills had been stopped.

The directions came suddenly and to the surprise of many environmentalists and NGOs which had been opposing development activities in the national park of Shakarparian for years.The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in a request to the CDA last month, had said Shakarparian and Rawal Lake were part of the overall Margalla Hills as notified by the federal government under Section 21 of Islamabad Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Ordinance 1979.

Describing it as the ‘lungs for the city of Islamabad’, the WWF had maintained that the various development activities initiated in the protected areas were still continuing without realising the sanctity of the park, and in most cases, ignoring the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

“Due to the mushroom growth of development activities, the microclimate of the city is being adversely affected, and urban pollution is a result of this,” said WWF in their letter (available with Dawn) to the new CDA chairman.

Other local NGOs also echoed along similar lines, urging the CDA to stop the destruction of natural vegetation in Shakarparian hills and halt massive construction works to promote research and preservation of the flora and fauna.

When Asia Gull was asked why the CDA had approved and permitted the construction of mega structures despite knowing that the Shakarparian hills were protected by the authority itself, she said, “These decisions were taken by the past CDA management, which did not properly envision and plan the development projects.”

However, according to the sources in CDA, the projects had not been stopped just for the environmental concerns.

“The new chairman has decided to halt construction till the authority manages to improve its financial situation,” said a senior official in the civic agency.