PCB Considering To Construct Cricket Stadium In Islamabad’s Green Belt

Jun 1, 2017 at 3:42 PM

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PCB Considering To Construct Cricket Stadium In Islamabad’s Green Belt

According to Pakistan media reports, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is mulling to construct a cricket stadium, in the green belt of Shakarparian, an area of the country’s capital Islamabad, after putting the plans on temporary hold, in the recent past, as it was vehemently opposed by the eco-activists.

The Head of Islamabad’s Wildlife Management Board Dr Anisur Rehman has revealed that it would be against the law to see the stadium being established in the national park, as he is also the guardian of the national park in Margalla Hills.

“There is also a perfectly good cricket ground in F-9. The construction of a cricket ground in Shakarparian will be completely illegal as it is part of the national park. The CDA cannot just lease out this land to anyone like this,” Rehman was quoted as saying by Dawn.

Interestingly, PCB is looking forward to striking a deal with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Pakistan alongside the National Council for Conservation of Wildlife (NCCW), as the area is further located within the Margalla Hills National Park.

According to the Executive Committee head of PCB, Najam Sethi stated the drainage system, protective walls and levelling of the ground was initiated before the project was halted by the objections from environmentalists.

“But when I came to the PCB in 2013, I reviewed the project and the objections to it by environmentalists and its economic feasibility. I shelved the project pending further deliberations and clearances,” Sethi asserted.

As the project has been pending for the last several years, PCB is further considering building the stadium on 35 acres of the land.

Working to save the green belts in the federal capital, Duskha Saiyid, who is also the founding member of the Green Force which has taken the initiative to go green believes it’s a complete threat to the environment and heritage.

“Shakarparian, Banigala and Margalla Hills are all part of the Margalla Hills National Park and are the lungs of the capital city,” Saiyid said.

It’s pertinent to note, during the tenure of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has allotted the 40 acres of land to PCB in 2008 on rent for around 33 years.

“Banigala, which is the catchment area of Rawal Lake, has already been lost, but Shakarparian and Margalla Hills are now under attack by developers and the short-sighted policies of the Capital Development Authority (CDA),” Saiyid remarked.

However, PCB failed to complete the construction process which was scheduled to get completed within five years, CDA further went on to cancel the land on lease.

Sethi, who will replace current PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan as a chief, has come up with the idea ‘green village’ while stating he is not with the idea of the full-fledged cricket stadium.

“I am still opposed to the full fledged stadium project. But I continue to toy with the idea of a ‘village green’ for friendly, amateur cricket at the site, with people sitting on grassy mounds to watch a gentlemanly game on Sundays,” Sethi added.

Adding to the worries, if the stadium happened to take place in a national park, it would further violate the 1979s Islamabad Wildlife Regulation.

“No concrete structures, no environmental issues. Just a small classic pavilion and changing room for players like in Aitchison College or Cambridge,” Sethi further added.

Christina Afridi another Green Force member stated the PCB can work on the stadium in Shamsabad which is on an international level and located around seven kilometres from Shakaparian.

“Cricket grounds can be built anywhere, why not find some already degraded land owned by the CDA and build it there instead. Why not build it in Shah Allah Ditta which will help rebuild the degraded area,” Christina concluded.

In 2016, the proposal was shelved after EPA and NCCW denied providing the no objection certificate.

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