Delayed project gets on residents’ nerves

ISLAMABAD, March 8: Residents of Sector I-14 showed their annoyance at the slow pace of work in laying a water supply line from Khanpur Dam as traffic jams, due to the trenches dug along the road and machines parked there, had become a nuisance.

Adding to their woes, sewerage line has also damaged due to the development work and the stench from the accumulated sewage is a constant misery for the traders, passersby and those who come to passport office located near Haji Chowk, Dawn learnt on Thursday.

Sibghatullah and Mohammad Mansoor, the residents of the sector complained that the contractor had been carrying out the work on the project at a snail’s pace for the last four months but its completion was nowhere in sight.

They said a bulldozer and other machinery parked there was causing traffic jam during rush hours and it became very difficult for the people to pass through the road.

Jamshed Khan, a trader of the area said during digging, the sewerage line had been broken and the gushing sewage accumulated in the area giving so much foul smell that it had become impossible to stay there even for the moments. He said the situation was affecting the business of the shopkeepers as no one was ready to come to this area.

Mudassar Ahmed, who had come to get a passport, said that the people had to stand to get passport in a queue just 10 feet away from the broken sewerage line and it was almost impossible for them to stand there but they had no choice.

Ashiq Ali, supervisor of the RMG Company which has been working on the project, said: “The work has been delayed because Capital Development Authority (CDA) does not make payments on time. Residents of Shah Allah Ditta village have stopped the work because they are demanding compensation for the land acquired for the project. It will take another six months to complete the project.”

Spokesman for CDA said in past some projects were delayed but new chairman CDA had given instructions to give priority to the projects of public importance and now civic body would ensure timely completion of all such schemes.