ISLAMABAD: Overgrown shrubs and grass has been seen in greenbelts, streets and footpaths of the city after continuous spells of rainfall during the monsoon season and if left as it is, it could turn into a potential breeding ground for disease causing insects.

It is high time for the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to carry out an operation to trim grass and remove shrubs from footpaths and greenbelts, in fact it should be done on a regular basis during the Monsoon season, said Abdul Qadir, a resident of G-7.

He said he felt inhibited due to the presence of wild bushes and grass in his area, as his son used to go outdoors every evening to play with his friends. He complained about the slackness of the concerned authorities as they had not taken action despite his complaints regarding the issue.

Zafran, resident of G-8, said he used to sit outdoors on the greenbelt with his friends in the evening to enjoy the weather. I am forced to spend my free time indoors as no authority bothered to trim the greenbelt of my area, he said.

Shahzad Haider, another resident, said no longer went to the park for a morning walk because the grass had grown too long. He urged the concerned departments to rectify the situation at the earliest.

An MCI official said that greenbelts are not being trimmed on a regular basis, however, teams have been deputed at every sector for removal of shrubs and bushes.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2020