CDA charts roadmap for Islamabad’s water agency, environmental protection

Islamabad:The Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Muhammad Ali Randhawa, presided over a meeting on Thursday to discuss the roadmap for the newly established Islamabad Water Agency and its efficient operations.

Randhawa stressed that the Islamabad Water Agency must take an active role in addressing the city's pressing water-related challenges. The meeting was attended by CDA board members, the Director General (DG) of Islamabad Water, and other relevant officials, while the DG of WASA Lahore and his team joined via Zoom to provide their input. The DG of Islamabad Water provided an overview of the city's water challenges, including the required human resources and financial hurdles.

Emphasizing the need for transparency in managing water resources, Randhawa called for the implementation of an e-governance model. He underlined the importance of adopting IT-based solutions, such as e-billing and net metering, to streamline operations and address water-related concerns. The DG of WASA Lahore shared valuable insights on water management initiatives successfully implemented in Lahore. He also detailed the complaint resolution system and monitoring mechanism managed through their control room.

The meeting further discussed the provision of clean drinking water for Islamabad's residents through filtration plants. It was noted that the restoration and repair of these filtration plants are already underway to ensure the availability of safe drinking water.

Randhawa highlighted the need for sustainable, long-term measures to resolve water issues and secure a reliable water supply for the city’s growing population. He reaffirmed his commitment to overcoming Islamabad's water challenges and improving services for its residents.

In a separate development, environmental expert Rizwan Mehboob met with the CDA Chairman on the same day to discuss initiatives for protecting Islamabad's forests and environment. They also deliberated on launching a large-scale tree plantation campaign this year.

Randhawa emphasized the importance of devising a strategy to control forest fire incidents in the National Hill Park before the fire season. Mehboob offered his voluntary support to assist the CDA in managing and preventing forest fires.

The chairman proposed the use of helicopters and drones for aerial seeding during the tree plantation drive. He also stressed the involvement of students from educational institutions and corporate sector representatives to maximize the campaign's impact. Randhawa further mentioned that the CDA is launching several initiatives, including the development of a safari park, to promote tourism and provide recreational facilities in Islamabad.