Senate body seeks comprehensive plan for Faisal Mosque’s management, curb littering

ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP):Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change Monday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to take stringent action against littering in the Federal Capital.

It also directed to devise a comprehensive strategy to ensure Faisal Mosque’s management in a better manner.

The Committee with Senator Sitara Ayaz in the chair, took up Senator Faisal Javed’s query pertaining to administrative control of Faisal Mosque.

It specifically asked to focus on pollution issue due to littering by the tourists and directed CDA and MCI to chalk out a proper mechanism to preserve the iconic spot.

The chair on behalf of the committee also recommended to work out a beefed up plan to curb littering in the federal capital.

Senator Sitara Ayaz also directed CDA Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed to brief on the solid waste management system and Katchi Abadis in the Federal Capital.

The chair expressed displeasure over the absence of the Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Minister of State for Climate Change and Mayor of Islamabad in the meeting.

She said : “It seems that plastic bags are the main concern of the government. We have raised the issue of solid waste management and disposal of household and industrial waste with special focus to hospital waste in the federal capital from this forum.”

“We want to convey our recommendations and committee findings to the prime minister through the ministers and they should have ensured their presence,” she added.

Chairman CDA Amir Ali Ahmed, while briefing the committee said solid waste management was the major responsibility of MCI. “We have identified two sites for the landfill, one at Sangjani and the other near Mandra, and initiated the environment impact assessment (EIA) of the project,” he added.

Additionally, the CDA had proposed five transfer sites to MCI for garbage segregation under the landfill site project to help improve decomposition process, he said.

“Three liquid waste treatment plants in the rural areas of the Federal Capital are also being proposed to reduce the water pollution,” he added.

He said there were eight slum areas (Katchi Abadis) in the Federal Capital, however, the relocation of these slums was not an administrative issue, rather a matter of social reform.

“We have prepared a plan, maps and designs for the establishment of relocation site of slums at I-9, G-7 and Alipur Farash which is a complete unit with all amenities”, he said. It would be implemented under the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, he added.

He said :”There is potential of 1,500 units to be developed in I-9, 1300-1400 units in G-7 and around 3,000 units in Alipur Farash sites.”
“The model is basically a ground plus three structures construction to accommodate the people residing in the slum areas,” he added.

The Chairman CDA told the committee that it was not CDA’s job to manage maintenance of all public buildings and recreational sites within the limited available budget as the responsibility lied with the Public Works Department (PWD). Initially, the Federal Capital had 2,50,000 population which at present had expanded to a huge size, the financial budget provided for maintenance of buildings was miniscule, he added.

“A separate budget should be issued for managing Faisal Mosque’s affairs and one competent authority should be assigned its possession.

Faisal Mosque is Pakistan’s identity and a potential tourist spot which should be managed in a better way to protect its grandeur ” he added.

Director Sanitation MCI Sardar Khan Zimir said there was need to revise the fine as per law on littering to increase the cognizance about open garbage dumping at public places and roads.

“At present, MCI staff fines Rs1000 to Rs2,000 on any person found dumping waste or littering other than the designated places which should be at least Rs5,000,” he added.

Director General Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Farzana Altaf Shah said there should be a government level decision to control littering and open garbage disposal as shopkeepers and market vendors across the federal capital’s business centers and markets were dumping heaps of garbage after closing their shops.

He said :”There should be a single time of 8pm for all shopkeepers to shutdown their shops and dump their garbage at the designated places.”