Steps towards self-sufficiency: CDA to generate 22MW electricity from waste

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to produce its own electricity for getting rid of power outages and financial burden, CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal said on Tuesday.

Talking to media persons at Convention Centre, he said up to 22MW electricity would be produced from the hospital and domestic waste of the city to make it self-sufficient in energy. He said the project would also help decrease financial burden of CDA, which is paying Rs 120 million as monthly electricity bills.

LED lights: He said CDA in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB) would install LED lights in the city to save maximum energy. Iqbal said ADB would finance 75 percent cost of the project. According to ADB survey, LED lights if installed across the country could save up to 3000MW electricity, he said.

Cut on expenditures: It has been decided to reduce up to 50 percent non-development expenditures of CDA to overcome severe financial crunch, said the chairman, adding, a 50 percent cut on vehicle expenditures would also be imposed. He said the CDA file work would be computerized to ensure transparency.

CDA would be made financially stable to carry out the development activities at faster pace and the available resources would be utilized in efficient manner in addition to exploiting the potential for foreign investment, said the chairman. Pakistan is being considered the gateway for the future world trade activities, he said, adding, promotion of economic activities in the Federal Capital is need of the hour.

CDA has devised several plans to achieve self-sufficiency, he said, adding, Blue area would be expanded up to F-10. Moreover, building code is being changed to ensure the construction of state of the art buildings in the capital, he added.

Parking plaza: He said a new parking plaza would be constructed in Jinnah Super market to resolve the congestion issue. The chairman said various shopping malls would be constructed in the capital and mega projects in collaboration with private sector would be initiated after getting approval of the higher authorities. A City Centre would also be constructed in the city to provide shopping facility to the people under one roof, he informed the media.

He said the green belt of the Aabpara Market was being transformed into parking lot, especially for the vehicles of shopkeepers to overcome traffic congestion. Work is continuing nowadays and after completion of the parking space - shopkeepers would be issued stickers to park their vehicles there, said Iqbal.

He said after completion of parking space any stickered vehicle hindering traffic flow would be fined up to Rs 10,000.

Development work: He said the development work at sector I-11 had been initiated while the work on sector I-15 will also be initiated soon. He said development activities in residential sectors I-14, I-16, E-12 and D-12 would be expedited while work on development of the Park Enclave would commence during the ongoing month.

The condition of capital’s parks especially Rawal Dam would be improved, he said, adding, a deputy director would be assigned to work as focal person in each sector and he would be responsible for any dilapidated condition of roads and footpaths, the chairman said. He said that anti-littering awareness campaign would be extended to the G and I Series Sectors along with the imposition of fine on violators.

Water supply: He said that the existing water supply network would be rehabilitated and efforts would be made for additional sources. Work on laying of pipeline from Tarbella Dam would be expedited so that the water problem could be resolved once for all, Iqbal said. staff report/agencies