Floods would occur every year unless encroachments on the storm drains are demolished, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives said

ISLAMABAD   -  Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has directed the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad to prepare a formal plan by next week to demolish the encroachments on all storm drains of Sector E-11.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar issued these directives while presiding over a meeting on all legal and illegal encroachments on storm drains in Sector E-11 of Islamabad, and other issues of housing societies and their solutions here on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Managing Director National Police Foundation, Chief Executive Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, and other dignitaries.

The Deputy Commissioner Islamabad apprised the meeting that most of the residential societies in Sector E-11 have constructed illegal encroachments on storm water drains which are causing obstructions in the flow of rainwater. The Deputy Commissioner further said that these societies have also carried out illegal constructions on green belts and parks.

The Federal Minister said that unless the encroachments on the storm drains were demolished, floods would occur in the rainy season every year and the lives of the residents of the area would be in danger.

Asad Umar directed the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad to identify the legal and illegal constructions on all storm drains of Sector E-11 and prepare a formal plan by next week to demolish the encroachments as per the regular schedule as soon as possible. 

The meeting also discussed in detail the ongoing disputes between the National Police Foundation Housing Society and IESCO and their solutions. MD National Police Foundation said that the residents of the National Police Foundation Society are facing severe difficulties due to load shedding, their power demand has now exceeded 3.5 MW so IESCO should install a new feeder, and upgrade all transmission lines and transformers. He also said that the CDA should dedicate a nearby location for a cemetery for sector E-11 and also provide parks and playgrounds for the children.

Asad Umar also directed IESCO to immediately address issues such as power supply to the residents of the National Police Foundation area and installation of electricity meters in other sectors as per need. He also directed the CDA to identify the cemetery area for the E-11 sector as soon as possible and to pinpoint the encroachments on the green belts and grounds and immediately take action against them.