CDA reluctant to earmark landfill site within its acquired area.

Byline: MUHAMMAD ASAD CHAUDHRY

ISLAMABAD -- The earmarking of landfill site for capital city has been put on back burner, as the planning wing of Capital Development Authority is reluctant to give its acquired land for the purpose.

According to sources, the CDA board was informed on Wednesday that after a comprehensive survey on the request of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), they failed to find a suitable place to earmark it as sanitary landfill site.

The board was informed further that no acquired land was feasible for landfill site due to compatibility of land uses of adjacent areas and prevailing risk of environmental hazard.

Though, the cash-strapped MCI is mandated for development of landfill site according to LG Act, 2015 but it was eying on CDA for the purpose, as it owns thousands of acres land in Islamabad. MCI had also requested CDA to earmark a piece of land measuring 25 acres for development of landfill site to dispose of the solid waste.

Instead of giving the required land for the purpose, the planning wing raised questions about capabilities of MCI and suggested to engage services of professionals first, as the disposal of solid waste is a highly professional matter.

The planning wing of CDA purposed a site originally belonging government of Punjab in the foothills of Margallah near Nicholson's Monument for landfill site and advised MCI to contact Punjab government in this regard.

Sources inside the CDA however said that besides categorical input by the planning wing, the matter was deferred by Capital Development Authority board and no final decision had been made so far.

When contacted, the Chairman CDA Amir Ali...