Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has declared the Government of Punjab responsible for illegal cutting of trees in the capital city. “The reserved forest compartment No 1 to 06 of forest area where illegal tree cutting is being carried out belongs to the Punjab Forest Department and does not fall in National Park. Therefore, Directorate of Environment Regional CDA does not take action and is not responsible for cutting of trees as they do not fall under the administrative control of CDA,” the CDA stated in its concise statement.

The authority on Tuesday submitted its reply in the Supreme Court of Pakistan over an application moved by former Deputy Attorney General Dil Muhammad Alizai about unchecked and unabated cutting of trees in the capital city within the precincts of the National Park Area. Alizai has named CDA and the Forest Department of the Punjab as respondents.

Applicant Alizai, who lives in Chaman Zar Hill Colony, 17 Mile near Bara Kahu, has contended that it has become a daily routine that some people cut trees from the wooded area in dark night. No one has ever bothered to stop the illegal activity, the applicant stated, adding that he often witnesses cutting of trees from Convention Centre up to Bara Kahu whenever he leaves the Supreme Court from his residence.

He has asked the court to order to conduct an inquiry to ascertain how long this exercise of unabated cutting of trees was going on and also to determine the extent of deforestation. On October 6, a three judge bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had issued a notice to the concerned authority, directing it to come up with a detailed rejoinder.

In response, the CDA stated that the Punjab Forest Department check post is also located in main Bara Khau Bazar of Islamabad Murree Expressway. The CDA stated that wood cutting is a compoundable offence and presently Sui Gas is not available in 32 villages, wherein the majority of the offenders belong to poor families.

However fines are being imposed on residents and offenders who refuse to pay the fine are being prosecuted in the CDA’s court. Regarding the fire eruption, the reply stated that the forest area does not relate to the National Park where elaborate arrangements are made for the protection of forest fire during the summer season in every year.

“For the said purpose, more than 600 officials perform duties in two shifts round the clock with the operational vehicle. Moreover, as per arrangements ERC helicopters are also used to control any fires from spiraling out of control,” reply stated.