Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approved the work plan for improvement and up-gradation of the environment of the federal capital to be carried out at a cost of Rs. 800.00 million
Chairman, CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi approved the plan consisting of around 200 small projects including both hard and soft landscaping of Class-III shopping centers, improvement of side slops of main avenues, interchanges, improvement of lawns and medium strips, cleansing of nullah, improvement at Zoo, construction of sit out areas, development of parks and establishment of Nurseries at different places.
As per work plan Rs. 434 million would be spent on the on going projects whereas Rs. 366 million would be spent on the new schemes.
Chairman, CDA, visited different parks and avenues inspected the trimming work of grass and bushes being carried out by the Environment Wing and also visited block plantation sites in Mulpur Area to monitor the growth of saplings planted during last planting session.
Speaking on the occasion Chairman CDA said that improvement and up-gradation of the environment is the top priority of the Authority as Islamabad has a unique green character which needs to be protected and preserved.
He said that CDA is taking concrete measures in collaboration with the partner organizations to increase the green cover and to preserve the rich biodiversity inhabited in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). The targets for planting the saplings has been increased from 0.8 million to 01 million a year.
The Chairman CDA said that Islamabad is the only planned city of Pakistan and its green character distinguishes it from other cities of the country as well as on the globe. He said, “Today’s Green Islamabad is the outcome of laborious and consistent efforts of CDA employees, which they made during the last 50 years in planting, protecting and nourishing the trees in the capital”.
The Chairman CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, said, CDA is working hard to increase the green cover and preserve the green character of the Federal Capital. CDA is focusing on planting the indigenous species, especially fruit and flowering trees including Chir, Pine, Kachnar, Amaltas, Dhreak, Jacaranda, Olive and Jaman etc.
He said that strict monitoring of the planted saplings is being carried out to ensure their maximum survival. The Chairman said that CDA actively participates in National Tree Plantation drive during each planting season and also invites general public, educational institutions, NGOs, government employees traders, environmentalists and members of the sectors citizens committees, representatives of ICT administration, Islamabad Police, to make these campaigns a success.
The Chairman said that the national park makes the city unique as the national park is abundant with of 616 plant species, 250 of birds, 38 of mammals and 13 species of reptiles. Collective efforts would help preserve the rich fauna and flora of the area as there are very few capital cities in the world that are blessed with such close proximity to nature as Islamabad.
CDA is taking concrete measures not only to protect the species inhabited the area but providing educational and recreational facilities to the residents of the twin cities and those visiting the federal capital. The CDA has devised a strategy to preserve the centuries old trees located in both rural and urban areas of the federal capital at a cost of millions of rupees.
Under the plan, the civic agency would preserve 2,400-year-old Sadhu ka Bagh and Shah Allah Ditta caves.
Besides, centuries old trees of different species including Date Palm, Kau, Phulai, Banyan, Mango and Peepul would also be protected under the same project.
The project initiated in the vicinity of Shah Allah Ditta would cost Rs 26 million in total out of which Rs 19 million would be spent on the preservation of Saadhu Ka Baagh.
The same site also consists of Stupa, old mosque and a Boally and a pond at Bun Faqiraan and the CDA has decided to preserve all of these sites to attract the visitors.
In total, CDA would preserve 150 sites that also include 13 sites where hundreds years old Bunyan Trees exist. (SANA)