ISLAMABAD: Around 100 students from 10 schools took part in the ‘clean-up the Korang River campaign’ on Sunday.

“When I heard that we are drinking polluted water from Korang River, I decided to play my role in cleaning the river,” said Azizur Rehman, a schoolboy.

While collecting garbage at the bank of the river, Monazza Asif, another student, said it was the citizens’ responsibility to keep the river clean because it flowed into Rawal Lake which supplied drinking water to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

PTI chairman Imran Khan and Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed attended the event to encourage the volunteers who picked up garbage from the river bank.

Speaking on the occasion, the PTI chief regretted that the departments concerned did not pay heed towards the contamination of the river. He said the river was flowing from Murree, which had been facing illegal constructions since long. “In 1890, the British rulers of the time issued directions that constructions should be halted in Murree. But even today construction activities continued.” He said other areas such as Bhara Kahu were unplanned settlements.

“Illegal constructions and encroachments are a big threat to the environment,” he said, adding his party would play its role in making Islamabad an environment-friendly city.

Talking about the government’s plan to install a chairlift at Margalla Hills, the PTI chief said his party would take up the issue. “If they are going to install a chairlift, the prime minister should tender resignation,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2015

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