ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to hire a consultant for selection of a new landfill site as shifting of the existing dumping site in I-12 is imperative after start of development work in the stalled sector.

“We are going to hire a consultant for feasibility and selection of a suitable site. We have identified four sites and the consultant will pick one of them,” said CDA Director General Shahjahan Khan.

Talking toDawnon Sunday, Mr Khan said the consultant would prepare feasibility report of four sites - Bhara Kahu, Sangjani, near Old Airport and another near Mandra.

“We have also decided that the new site will be a proper engineering and scientific landfill site. The existing one in I-12 is a dumping site, not a proper landfill site,” he said.

Feasibility report to be prepared about sites in Bhara Kahu, Sangjani, near old airport, Mandra

It is relevant to note here that the CDA has been dumping around 600 tonnes of garbage and waste daily in I-12, which has remained a stalled sector for years, however, recently the civic body started development work in this sector. Therefore, shifting of the dumping site, which is almost filled to its capacity, has become imperative.

Last year, the CDA decided to set up a temporary site in H-16, but the locals of the area filed a court case against the authority. Later, it was decided that the site will not be established in H-16.

Meanwhile, the civic agency had also proposed setting up a site on its nursery land along Park Road, but after a few meetings, this site was also termed not suitable.

It is relevant to note here that the CDA continues to receive criticism from residents for questionably reversing its decision of setting up a permanent landfill site after finalising a site in Kuri in 2011.

For over 10 years, makeshift arrangements have been made for dumping waste at temporary locations. The Kuri site was selected after many meetings and on the basis of reports of the consultant, but in a highly dubious manner, CDA in 2011, citing objection of an environment body, decided not to go for it.

Some officials of that time had alleged that this decision of not setting up the site in Kuri area was made to appease administrations of private housing societies. Since then, the CDA is shifting the temporary site from one place to another.

A few years ago, the civic agency proposed a site in Sangjani, but the environment body after receiving public complaints rejected the proposal. Later, the CDA proposed a site in the institutional sector of H-16, but Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a stay order.

Now, CDA has decided to hire a consultant for feasibility report and selection of a suitable site. Meanwhile, the authority is working towards setting up a landfill site near Mandra, Chakwal as a joint venture with Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA). Last year, both civic agencies held meetings on this subject.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2022