ISLAMABAD: The tense relationship between the nascent Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) and the 56-year-old Capital Development Authority (CDA) has worsened over the last week, due to various issues.

Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz recently inaugurated a Rs168 million project for rehabilitation work on I.J. Principal Road a move that was opposed by the CDA, which claims it should execute a project that it proposed, initiated and awarded.

On Thursday, CDA Member Engineering Shahid Sohail wrote a letter to the IMC, available with Dawn, on the project, arguing that it fell within the domain of the authority.

However, Mr Aziz told Dawn the project was under the road and maintenance department, which has been devolved to the IMC.

He said the CDA awarded the contract for the project in May but could not start it until July 25, when he inaugurated it.

`I.J. Principal Road is a very busy road, and construction work needed to be started without wasting any more time. Thousands of people have to suffer because of [the road`s] condition,` he said, adding that the CDAshould not make an issue out of the public welfare project.

`We have been taking this issue to the appropriate forum, and the CDA has to withdraw the letter, he said. Mr Aziz said the IMC and the CDA have had disputes over several departments, including the Building Control Section and administrative control of income generating public places such as F-9 park and the Rawal Lake park.

However, he said rather than engaged in a war of words, the corporation has made its case at the appropriate forum, such as the transition committee.

In addition to its indirect problems with the CDA, the IMC is also facing a shortage of funds, and so far has failed to acquire even non-development funding. However, Mayor Aziz was optimistic about funding being released soon.

Sources said there was also a dispute between the two organisations about control over ongoing development projects that are being executed by the CDA with Rs5 billion in special funding from a package announced by the prime minister. It was decided that ongoing projects would be carried out by the CDA.

During the last IMC session both sides of the aisle criticised the CDA and claimed somebureaucrats wanted to derail the local government system. They also complained that CDA of ficials were not listening to them when it came to resolving public problems, and demanded the formation of a privilege committee.

Mr Aziz said CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal has cooperated with the corporation, but some officials were causing problems.

However, a CDA official told Dawn the authority has been cooperating with the IMC.

`If indirectly we raised the inauguration of I.J. Principal Road, which is a CDA project, by the mayor it is not a cold war. We are cooperating with the local government setup, and we are also providing them with an over Rs1.6 billion loan for the salaries of their employees. We also gave them a loan of Rs60 million,` he said.

The official said the CDA handed over its departments to the IMC in accordance with the local government act.

When contacted, Chief Metropolitan Officer Asad Mehboob Kayani said: `Currently, we are facing several challenges including the budget, but we are trying to overcome all these challenges.` He added that the rehabilitation of I.J. Principal Road is entirely in the domain of the IMC, and not the CDA.