ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has launched a new project. It covers waste collection and cleanliness for the rural areas of the federal capital. It is working through a Turkish company. Indeed, this is the first time residents of these areas will have access to such a service. Moreover, the Islamabad rural waste collection project marks a major civic milestone.
Until now, residents of the capital’s rural belt had no formal garbage collection system at all. Consequently, this forced them to dump waste in open areas and nullahs.
“We are very happy that trained staffers with new equipment have started cleanliness work in our areas which were earlier completely ignored,” said Mahtab Ahmed, a resident of Bhara Kahu.
Residents want the service to last
Specifically, Farooq Ahmed is a resident of Khanapul. For example, he struck a cautious note. “Starting service is good but the real challenge for the CDA will be to continue it with the same zeal. In the past, we saw government starting some project with positive note only to abandon it later on,” he said.
CDA sources said the project was launched on the interior minister’s direction. Specifically, Chairman Sohail Ashraf and Member Environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi are leading the effort. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has been personally focusing on the project, an official said.
How the system will work
Both the urban and rural packages had been won by the same Turkish company. Nevertheless, the CDA decided to engage the company in the rural areas (Package II) first. Under the project, the company will carry out cleanliness work. In addition, it will collect waste and transport it to a transfer station in I-11. From there, it will be shifted to the Losar landfill site in Rawalpindi. Specifically, the company is bound to deploy 1,300 sanitation workers and 104 vehicles.
The CDA will ensure waste segregation at the transfer station. Furthermore, it also plans a recycling plant. This includes using plastic for manhole covers, an official said.
The capital has seen its share of civic friction this month. Traders shut down over a controversial shutdown call. In addition, the city also sought an extension of the Rangers’ deployment.
An Rs18 billion contract with a contested history
The Turkish company won the contract by submitting a bid worth around Rs18 billion. Specifically, this covered both the urban and rural packages for a four-year term. Sources said the rural package was worth around Rs7.5 billion for four years. The urban package would cost around Rs10 billion.
However, the award followed a disputed process. The CDA had opened the bids in July. It initially disqualified the Turkish company during technical evaluation. However, it then qualified it on a grievance complaint. Its bid then turned out to be the lowest. Indeed, there was a Rs380 million difference over the next bidder. A rival joint venture challenged the decision before the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority. Consequently, it decided the matter in favour of the CDA.
The CDA management is seriously contemplating cancelling the urban process. Furthermore, it may restart it later. “Our main target was rural areas, where there was no system in place. For the urban areas, there is no urgency,” a senior officer said.
Early start, formal launch later
The company was directed to begin operations immediately. Instead, it did not wait for a formal inauguration. “A mega inauguration was planned. But there was growing demand of residents to start the project as soon as possible; therefore, we decided to start the project before its inauguration,” the officer said. The formal launch will follow in the coming weeks. Specifically, this will happen once the full fleet of machinery and vehicles is in place.
The project marks one of the largest civic investments in the capital’s rural belt in recent years. For instance, this theme is reflected in other recent CDA development initiatives in the city. These range from a Rs1 billion city decoration drive to a Rs500 billion commercial project.
Frequently asked questions
Which areas are covered by the new waste collection service?
Indeed, the service covers the rural areas of Islamabad. Indeed, these previously had no formal garbage collection system. Waste will be transported to a transfer station in I-11. Finally, it will then go to the Losar landfill site in Rawalpindi.
How much is the contract worth?
The Turkish company’s bid was worth around Rs18 billion for both packages over four years. This is roughly Rs7.5 billion for the rural areas and Rs10 billion for the urban areas.
When will the project be formally inaugurated?
Operations have already started on residents’ demand. A formal inauguration is planned in the coming weeks. This will happen once the full fleet of machinery and vehicles is in place.
