ISLAMABAD: Greenbelt along the Islamabad Expressway has become a dumping site for waste where residents of the surrounding areas throw domestic refuse and animals’ dung with impunity.

Commuters can see heaps of garbage lying in patches on the 600-foot-long green area on both sides of the highway. They have not only destroyed the beauty of the highway but also give a foul smell to passersby. The irony is that the people throw waste without any check from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) or the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration.

Moreover, uncovered drains pass through the area, giving stinking smell.

“The CDA should maintain the greenbelt on both sides of this all important road, as bulk of traffic of the twin cities uses it,” says Mohammad Asghar, who lives in Ghauri Town on the eastern side of the highway.

According to him, the civic body can develop parks on both sides of the road. “The CDA can either develop parks on its own or hire the services of a private firm for this purpose,” he adds.

He points out that the foul smell from animal waste and other garbage has left the highway impassable.

Chaudhry Arif, a resident of a nearby service road on the eastern side, regrets the apathy of the CDA towards maintenance of the road, which connects the capital city with almost all parts of Pakistan.

“The expressway is a victim of CDA’s neglect as the civic authority has virtually allowed the misuse of the green patches along the highway.”

He alleged that owners of a cattle pen bribed a CDA forester and in return he allowed them to throw animal waste there.

“The foul smell always greets the road users no matter if they are foreign dignitaries or government functionaries,” says Mohammad Ishtiaq, who runs a photo shop along the service road of the highway.

He urged the ICT administration and the CDA to launch an awareness campaign among the people against the dumping of garbage in green areas.

“Since the greenbelt consumes a large tract of land, it can be developed into public park with jogging tracks and sitting arrangements so that the people can enjoy clean environment,” he adds.

Mohammad Shahid, a property dealer, having office on the service road, says that sometimes it becomes difficult for him or his guests to sit in the office due to the foul smell coming from the uncovered drains flowing through the area.

“Due to faulty drainage system laid underneath the highway, greenbelts turn into ponds of dirty water during heavy rain, which take days to recede,” says Mr Shahid.

Ashraf Mughal says that the CDA should launch a campaign against dumping waste on the greenbelt and should fine the thrower of domestic refuse.

“Stagnant water, heaps of garbage and growth of bushes give an unpleasant look of the greenbelt,” he adds. He also demanded of the authorities concerned to turn the greenbelts into parks.

When contacted, CDA’s additional director environment, Irshad Hussain said that the authority’s chairman had directed to turn the greenbelts into public parks.

“Turning some patches of the greenbelts into nurseries is also under consideration since the total width of the greenbelts along both sides of the road is about 600 feet,” added Mr Hussain.

He said the CDA had been imposing fines on those throwing garbage onto the green areas.

Nauman Yousaf, ICT’s assistant director, rural, told Dawn the union council concerned lacked funds and manpower to carry out cleanliness of the greenbelts.

He said the ICT was also facing funds’ shortage to fence the greenbelts to bar people from throwing waste there.