CDA plants 166,000 saplings to compensate tree-loss
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has planted more than 166,000 saplings to compensate the tree-loss caused due to the construction of main roads and avenues in the federal capital.
Out of total 7935 trees chopped by the civic body, 4497 were of paper mulberry and other undesired species causing pollen allergy that has become a nuisance for the residents of the Capital. Defending the Authority, Member Environment Mazhar Hussain said since the inception of the Capital, the Authority has planted more than 25 million saplings.
Every year, CDA plants more than 600,000 saplings in urban and rural areas of the city.
He clarified that the Master Plan of the Authority provides 600 feet wide right-of-way running North to South between the two sectors those are called avenues. As these areas were lying undeveloped for long, a mushroom growth ofpaper mulberry came into being and the work to uproot them is underway, he said. “Trees coming in the alignment of right-of-way and other undesirable species like paper mulberry and Eucalyptus are being replaced by planting indigenous tree species like Kachnar, Amaltas, Chir, Pine and Batangi in the designated areas of 250 feet width along the avenues under proper landscape design.
The Authority has chopped 1414 paper mulberry trees from 7th Avenue, 189 from 8th Avenue, 1208 from 9th Avenue, 1040 from Nazimuddin Road, 893 from Ibn-e Sina Road, 838 from faizabad to Serena Hotel, 602 from Sawan Road and 177 from Capital Avenue.
During the current season, the Authority will plant more or less 300,000 saplings across the federal capital as part of its spring plantation campaign launched this week. He said the plantation campaign would also offset the negative impression of development and encourage the participation of all stakeholders in the plantation campaign.
He said the Authority would run this campaign with the cooperation of the public and has finalized all arrangements for public participation as well as awareness campaign.
During the six-day long campaign, the Authority would plant 35,700 saplings on new roads, 59,342 on existing roads, 15,250 in sectors, 30,000 in parks and playfields, 105,000 on Margalla Hills and 55,000 On the first day of the campaign, the Authority would plant saplings on Murree Road, 2nd day on 9th Avenue, 3rd day on greenbelts of G-11 and F-11sectors, 4th day on Islamabad Highway, 5th day on greenbelts of G-10 and F-10 sectors and on sixth day the plantation would be carried out on Margalla Hills National Park.