ISLAMABAD: A school operating out of a residential area in I-8 appears to have cleared four to five kanals on a greenbelt with heavy machinery for its own use, converting it into a plain ground of dirt and gravel laid to level the land further.

The Global System of Integrated Studies (GSIS) has said that the land in question was being wasted and that they had tried to give the area facelift so children could spend some more time outside. However, cars have been seen parked on the cleared greenbelt.

When contacted, GSIS School and College Director Rizwan Rizvi said the land in question was covered in tall grass and was used as a dumpsite for animal waste, especially during Eidul Azha.

“It had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We decided to clear the space and beautify it by planting trees on the land as part of the ongoing green Islamabad campaign.

“However, officials from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) imposed a fine on us for Rs3 million for giving the piece of land a facelift,” he said.

Mr Rizvi added that he has been meeting with and requesting senior CDA officials to cooperate and allow the school to beautify the space and help with the plantation fine.

He told Dawn the CDA had not yet dropped the fine.

CDA has taken notice of the portion of the greenbelt that has been cleared, Director Enforcement Fahim Badshah said.

He directed questions to one of his subordinates, Mohammad Ramzan, who told Dawn that officials from the CDA’s enforcement, roads and environment wings had visited the site after the case was brought to their notice. So far, the school’s administration has only been warned of legal action.

An official from the environment wing said offices, private businesses, shopkeepers, schools and even residents have continued to occupy any vacant available space wherever and however they can.

“It is done more often in collusion with CDA officials. Despite punitive action against CDA officials, the practice of illegally occupying government land is rampant,” the official said.

He gave the example of Safa Gold Mall in F-7, where a nullah was covered and turned into a parking area.

The fact that three officials were found guilty of allowing the illegal construction in this case has not deterred some from malpractice.

“There are numerous such examples, where negligence on the part of the CDA has caused environmental degradation across the capital,” the official said.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2018