Ministry of Environment has not given approval for 'Dualization of Garden Avenue' Shakarparian Road to Capital Development Authority (CDA). The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) report was submitted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) under IEE/EIA Regulations 2000 to Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) for environmental approval.
After review of the IEE report and physical site inspection, Pak-EPA observed that the dualization of the Garden Avenue is not justified at this stage due to less traffic. Moreover green cover will diminish further as the project is located in the ecological sensitive area which is part of Margalla National Park.
This proposed dualization of Garden Avenue encompasses 300ft wide dual carriageway. Each carriageway of 150ft was divided into 24ft paved road, 1.5ft central median, 12ft shoulder, 6ft drain, 10ft cycle tract, 10ft footpath and 86.5ft of green belt. Due to the execution of the project the CDA informed that 900 trees were to be cut down.
Hence, in exercise of the powers conferred to Director General, Pak-EPA under clause (b) of subsection (2) of section 12 of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, Environmental approval of the project 'Dualization of Garden Avenue, Islamabad' has been declined.
Pak-EPA, however, suggested, if it is essential at all, Capital Development Authority may consider is widening of the existing road by only 10ft (5ft each side) subject to the condition that only the existing shoulders may be medaled along the alignment.-PR