ISLAMABAD: The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) in its 21st session on Friday approved a new policy for tree plantation in the city.

During the session held at the Pak-China Friendship Centre with Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz in the chair, it was decided that the new tree plantation campaign will be divided in three phases.

During the first phase, Environment Wing staff will visit each housing unit in residential sectors of Islamabad and provide them with one sapling each so that residents of the city are practically engaged in making Islamabad green.

Each house is to be given sapling to plant, trees are to be planted in all green belts, parks and Margalla Hills National Park

During the second phase, the Environment Wing will plant saplings in the parks, green belts and other areas allocated in each union council of Islamabad and the chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors of respective UCs will ensure the involvement of the community. In the third phase, re-plantation will be carried out in the Margalla Hills National Park and a site will be allocated for a botanical garden in Bani Gala.

The water shortage issue in the capital was also discussed during the session and it was decided that MCI will provide funds to the water directorate to ensure uninterrupted water supply during the coming summer season from the corporation’s funds.

Local representatives also called for improving water tanker service and tube wells. MCI opposition leader Ali Nawaz Awan said 154 out of 190 tubewells are functioning and that only 17 out of 34 water tanks are in operation.

The house also approved the renaming of the Citizen Club in F-9 Park as the Metropolitan Corporation Club and the appointment of legal and financial consultants for the club.

It approved the outsourcing of Multiple Sports Club in F-6 through an advertisement in accordance with Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and the Lake View Park food court will also be outsourced in accordance with PPRA rules.

The house also approved the installation of LED street lights in various phases. According to a summary submitted in the house, there are some 36,050 street lights in the federal capital with a 2,000 kilometre cable network which the MCI is planning to replace.

The summary says the operational expense of street light staff salaries is approximately Rs78 million, electricity charges are Rs780 million, cost of material is Rs10 million, renovation costs Rs100 million, maintenance of operation vehicle costs Rs5 million a year.

The house was told that huge electricity charges were paid every year due to inefficient street lights presently installed in Islamabad and that the MCI plans to replace these with LED lights through the Energy Management Contracting system which will carry out the upfront investment in the project.

MCI is obligated to pay the EMC firm amounts equal to the energy saving for a certain period after the installation/ replacement on the basis of a performance test.

During the settled concession period post commissioning of LED street lights retrofit , EMC firm will also carry out operation and maintenance including replacement for already installed LED lights or components with no additional cost to MCI.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2018