ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: Development projects of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) now being opposed by the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pepa) were approved by Minister for Environment Faisal Saleh Hayat when he was Minister of Interior, well-placed sources told Dawn on Thursday.

That disclosure should stop the CDA and the Pepa from throwing the blame on each other for the degradation of the city’s environment.

Pepa accuses the CDA of ignoring the environment protection requirements in executing its development projects in Islamabad. The CDA on the other hand accuses Pepa of creating hurdles in the way of development of the city by raising “illogical” objections.

Both sides are said to be well aware of the responsibilities of each other. It is an interesting coincidence that the present federal minister for environment has served as interior minister or the head of the CDA and the sitting CDA chairman Kamran Lashari as Pepa Punjab chief.

Projects that Faisal Saleh Hayat approved as interior minister and Pepa opposes when he is environment minister are: Installation of chairlift from Japanese Park to Daman-i-Koh, construction of 7th Avenue, Construction of 9th Avenue, construction of underpasses at Jinnah Avenue, remodelling of Fatima Jinnah Park, water sports at Rawal Lake, arts and craft village at Saidpur, promenade at Rawal Lake, widening of several roads.

Several other projects also are considered environment hazards but they are not taken seriously by Pepa. They are: Establishment of military General Headquarters (GHQ) at National Park area where any sort of construction is prohibited, construction of a national monument at Shakarparian for which a cliff at Zero Point area had been cut disturbing flora and fauna of the area, running of crushers at Margalla Hills which have been destroying the hill range for over two decades, opening of an international fast food chain at Fatima Jinnah Park and lack of proper disposal of waste coming out from foreign missions in Diplomatic Enclave and spilling into Rawal Lake, the major source of drinking water for over 2.5 million population of Rawalpindi.

When contacted, Pepa Director-General Asif Shujaa insisted the agency had opposed all the development projects which could harm the environment of Islamabad.

However, he said Pepa and the CDA were evolving a joint mechanism for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) prior to commissioning development projects.

He said the chairlift project was opposed as a large number of trees at Margalla Hills were to be axed, the construction 7th and 9th avenues were also opposed on the same ground, water sports at Rawal Lake were criticised for the fear that it would pollute the lake water.

He said Pepa had asked military authorities to conduct EIA for GHQ project.

Meanwhile, CDA’s Director-General (Environment) Mazhar Hussain announced at a press conference that the CDA and Pepa had chalked out a strategy to jointly conduct EIA before initiating any development project in the capital.

He revealed that the authority had axed 20,000 trees in the last three years in Islamabad, mainly to prevent pollen allergy in the capital.

A total of 14,885 paper mulberry trees, believed to be the main cause of pollen allergy, had been cut and another 5,150 trees like poplar eucalyptus, considered to be environmentally unsuitable, had been removed on account of road projects.

The official said roads were being constructed according to the city’s master plan and the obstructive green belts had to be removed from the areas meant for expansion of the road network.

“The construction of proper road network in the capital is one of the best ways to reduce air pollution,” he added.

The CDA was in constant touch with Pepa and other institutions and would take every step to preserve ecology of the city, he said.