ISLAMABAD: The streams of Islamabad, once used to contribute to the beauty of the capital , now present a sordid picture as a number of housing societies and slums release sewage into these ‘streams’ making them filthy drains.

The streams, big and smalls, flow through Margallas and other surrounding areas. But all of them have been converted into drains, because of the negligence of Capital Development Authority (CDA), which had turned a blind eye to housing societies and slums throwing sewage and garbage in these streams.

Besides sewage, residents of many areas also throw trash and even construction material into these drains, as they find it easier to dispose of any unwanted material into these streams.

While in rural areas, the bed of some nullahs have also been encroached upon by land mafia, particularly on Korang nullahin upstream and downstream areas.

Recently, CDA’s directorate of housing societies took a step and at least issued notices to owners of 52 legal and illegal housing societies on March 19. However, time will tell whether CDA will be successful in enforcing the notices and take action against the violators. Out of these 52 housing societies five are operating in E-11.

Notice under section 49 and 46-B of the CDA Ordinance 1960, read with clause-5, Chapter IV of the ICT zoning regulations, 1992 related to discharging untreated sewage into nullah, stated: “The housing schemes would have its own independent sewage treatment system which should be capable of taking 80 percent of the water consumption. RCC pipes shall be used for carrying the sewage. The minimum diameter of the sewer shall be six inches. The disposal of sewage shall be made through the trunk sewer, which will terminate at a sewege treatment plant for primary treatment. Septic tank is compulsory for all domestic commercial or institutional buildings. No sewage waste will be disposed in existing nullah or water streams, without treatment. Treated sewage must be recycled and reused for irrigation/gardening purposes.”

Through the said notice, CDA directed the operators of housing societies: “You [owners of schemes] are advised to immediately stop discharging untreated sewage of your schemes into nullahs and develop the sewerage treatment plant (STP) at the approved locations in the layout plant on immediate basis.”

According to the CDA’s notice, five such housing schemes which discharge untreated sewage into nullahs, are operating in E11, 14 in Zone II and 34 in Zone 5. The societies in zone 5 are discharging untreated sewage in nullahs, which flows in catchment areas of Sohan River.

When contacted a senior officer of CDA confirmed to Dawn that CDA had issued notices to owners of the societies. Asked about whether civic agency will take action against the violators, he said: “We have issued notices and directed them to set up STPs, in case of failure, we will definitely take action,” the officer claimed and added that the management of the civic agency had directed the societies to ensure implantation of CDA’s regulations in all housing societies.

Besides housing schemes, illegal slums in city areas have made all nullahs which crosses in the middle of the city, enroute to Nullah Leh, filthy. An official source said that discharging sewage into nullahs is a big crime and action should be taken against the violators including big fishes in housing sectors.

“This is shameful that owners of housing schemes earned billions of rupees and instead of constructing STPs, they are discharging sewage into nullahs,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2025