SECTOR I-17 INDUSTRIAL AREA PLAN SHELVED DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS

The plan to construct an Industrial Area in sector I-17 of Islamabad has been shelved due to lack of funds and Capital Development Authority has failed to protect the citizens from life-threatening and poisonous environmental pollution generated by the industries in sector I-9 and I-10.

These industries are not only inhospitable to the environment but also endanger the health of residents. For past decade the CDA had planned to move the industrial area away from the residential sectors to Sector I-17, however, the plan is yet to be materialized. The authorities have marked certain industries and placed them on the ‘Negative List’ because their pollution is specifically damaging to the ecology and environment of the area.

Supreme Court has taken suo moto notice of the issue and has directed the authorities to take the action in this regard. A CDA officer, requesting anonymity, told Pakistan Today that because of lack of funds, the project had to be shelved.

“CDA has to pay to the dwellers of I-17 sector but CDA does not have enough funds to clear the area from the people who are already residing there. Unless that happens, the authority cannot build I-17 sector which is essential for city dwellers to keep the environment of residential area,” he added.

Life has become difficult for resident of the area because of environment-unfriendly industries. Due