ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Raja Javed Ikhlas on Friday said solid waste was one of the reasons for the spread of dengue.

Presiding over a meeting on dengue on Friday, he said that the issue of solid waste management in the capital city could not be resolved even after about a decade.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had initially identified Kuri as the landfill site but later changed the plan.

The CDA then started dumping solid waste in sector H-10 till the the Islamabad High Court stopped it from the practice.

In 2013, the CDA chose a dumping site in the foothill of Margalla near the National Park which is a protected area under the Constitution.

However, the then Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took suo motu notice and stopped the CDA from dumping solid waste there.

Mr Ikhlas said the issue of solid waste management should be resolved to control the spread of dengue.

“After the metro bus project, a project of solid waste management should be launched in the federal capital,” he said.

Earlier, the parliamentary secretary was briefed about the dengue prevention activities. He was informed that stagnant water was the main cause of the growth of vector mosquito which caused dengue.

The parliamentary secretary directed the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to create awareness among the students and parents regarding the prevention of dengue.

It was suggested to start zero periods in schools to create awareness among the students regarding dengue.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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