ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Large fiberglass dinosaurs, purchased by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in 2009 for Rs10 million, have been lying unused for the last three years, showing the civic agency’s apathy towards public money.

A CDA official told Dawn that some of them were damaged by schoolchildren as Ankara Park, where they had been dumped, had no fencing. While few others installed on Murree Road were dismantled by the authority, since they were distracting commuters, causing a few accidents, he said.

Atiya Jabeen of the Agro-farm Houses Scheme remembers the sculptures fondly. "The park was much more appealing after the dinosaurs were installed, but they were removed," she said.

Munazza Ilyas of Margallah Town said she used to bring her children to Ankara Park every Sunday to see the dinosaurs. According to the CDA official, the dinosaur sculptures have not been properly taken care of.

"They've been lying in the open for the past three years, corroding in sun and rain," he said and added:

“The environment wing is not interested in fixing them or in placing them somewhere else." Besides, the CDA board too, he claimed, had not addressed the matter properly.

The official said in 2012, the defunct Project Management Office (PMO), which had been abolished by the CDA board because of poor performance, instead of installing the dinosaurs’ sculptures decided to renovate the Ankara Park.

“A complete PC-I was prepared by the defunct PMO wing for renovation of Ankara Park.

But, the official said, the project could not kick off during the last one year for want of funds.

Member environment at the CDA, Dr Kazim Naiz, while talking to Dawn said that once funding was received from the finance wing, the dinosaurs would be installed near the Islamabad Zoo as instructed by the CDA Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz.