ISLAMABAD: In keeping with its tradition of delaying the completion of its mega projects, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has also failed to complete a small-scale project to install floral clocks in parts of the city.

The CDA announced that it would install floral clocks at various points in the city in June last year, at which point the then member environment, Sanaullah Aman, said the project would be completed within a month. However, the project has not yet been completed.

The CDA’s environment wing has been devolved to the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI). Director General Environment Salman Sheikh said floral clocks will be set up in four places – next to the I-8 Interchange, on Kashmir Chowk, near the Centaurus Mall and at Marghazar Zoo Chowk.

Mr Sheikh said he did not know why the project is being delayed, but added that the floral clock near the zoo is close to being completed.

A significant portion of the block near the I-8 Interchange was completed a couple of months ago, but is now being reconstructed.

The temporary chief metropolitan officer, Asad Mehboob Kayani, said: “We will look into the matter. The project should have been completed within at least two months.”

According to the agreement, the project expenses are to be borne by a private company, and there are no financial implications for the MCI.

According to an MCI official, the lack of a financial implication in the project is why officials from the environment wing “are not taking interest in this project”.

According to the CDA and MCI announcement, the floral clocks are large, decorative clocks with the face of the clock formed by carpet bedding and aesthetically arranged seasonal and perennial flowers. Landscaping would be carried out around the clock, and special lighting arrangements, to make them look attractive at night, are also part of the project.

Former member environment Sanaullah Aman acknowledged the delays in the project, saying: “The project should have been completed several months ago.”

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2017