Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) bureaucracy is reluctant to hand over powers to elected Metropolitan Corporation for their own interest.

It was decided in the high level meeting that out of total 70, the 23 directorates of CDA would be fully transferred to the IMC. Despite passage of four months of elections of Mayor and deputy Mayors the power could not be transferred to the elected representatives of the city.

The elections of Mayor and Deputy Mayor were held February 14 in federal capital but the IMC representatives are still waiting powers proposed from CDA.

Talking to Daily Times, Deputy Mayor Islamabad, Syed Zeshan Ali Naqvi said people have their expectations from elected local government but due to lack of administrative powers the body couldn’t deliver.

He said the IMC has chalked a comprehensive long and short term plan for the development of capital city and provision of basic civic amenities to its citizens.

He said capital city was facing severe water shortage in current summer, he added, after getting administrative powers IMC will solve this issue on priority basis.

Deputy Mayor said main water line would be laid from Ghazi Barotha to Islamabad to meet the water need of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpidi for next 50 years.

He said the main water supply line was in poor condition and was not been repaired before, adding that this main supply line would also be replaced with new one.

He said tube-wells would be installed in suburban areas of Islamabad where water supply doesn’t reaches.

On the other hand, the CDA Employee Union was protesting against the bifurcation of CDA with stance that due to this division the rights of employees had not been protected.

Ch. Yasin in this regard held a meeting with chairman CDA Shahrukh Nusrat on Thursday and informed him about the concerns of employees in this regard.

He told the CDA Chairman that the CDA employees have severe reservation over the proposed draft of bifurcation.

The Capital Development Authority chairman assured him that all issues would be settled down according to employees’ wishes and he would soon hold a meeting with CDA union regarding this matter.

When contacted an official of CDA said the authority has prepared a draft to transfer powers to IMC according to law.

Authority has no objection over transfer of administrative powers to the local body system, he said.