Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Five fountains installed at different sectors of Islamabad at a cost of millions of rupees have become out of order or rusty out due to negligence of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

According to the master plan of the CDA, some 24 fountains were to be installed in different sectors of the federal capital to beautify the city, but before putting in new fountains, most of the fountains already installed have deteriorated.

In addition to this the CDA has a plan to establish slides, swings and jumping castles for the amusement of children and different style water fountains at the public parks and picnic spots of Islamabad including Shakarparian, Rose and Jasmine Garden, Fatima Jinnah Park, zoo and Lake View Park. The civic body had allocated a budget of Rs 30 million for the purpose.

At present six fountains are installed in public parks and two constructed alongside roads. But two of them are in proper working condition and the remaining are out of order as the pipelines become rusty. Several valves as well as pipes of these fountains have vanished, whereas the fountain set-up outside Centauras Mall and Marriot Hotel are also not functioning.

The citizens have complained many times but the big bosses of the CDA have not paid any heed towards the matter. Their full attention is towards those sectors in which the high-ups of the CDA are living and they overlook the other sectors of Islamabad.

The sources said that every year a budget of Rs 30 million is allocated for repair and maintenance of the fountains and children swings and even a meagre portion of it is not utilised for the purpose.

The source said that the CDA earmarks a budget of Rs 140 million annually for upgradation of the parks and it can earn Rs 50 million per annum from the tourists and visitors of these parks. But the officers of the CDA, issue the contracts of these parks at very low rates to their close relatives and a big amount goes into the pocket of these corrupt officers instead of the national exchequer.

In this connection when Daily Times contacted the Director General (Environment) of the CDA, Sheikh Sulman, he said that there were some 24 water fountains in the city for which a budget was allocated, but it was used on other projects.

He said that the CDA required Rs 2.5 million for the wear and tear, cleanliness and motor winding of these fountains and the authority informed the Chairman about this. As and when the funds would be available, these would be mended.