Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The continuous eruption of wildfire in Margalla Hills needs a well devised strategy by city managers because existing arrangements once again proved a failure in curtailing fire eruption. On Saturday night fire once again flared up on top of the hills. The CDA has decided to initiate joint patrolling on the hills along with Islamabad Police.

The higher-ups of CDA sat together in recent days and discussed the problem of fire eruption in Margalla Hills in connection with the ongoing summer season. Chairman CDA Maroof Afzal directed the Environment Wing to depute 300 more officials to curb the fire incidents in Margalla Hills. Moreover, to enforce effective monitoring of the number of fire pickets, established in the Margalla Hills, has been increased from 15 to 30.

“Fire Tenders along with 50 officials of Emergency and Disaster Management have also been deputed at Pir Sohawa who will work in different shifts and assist the staff of Environment Wing in case of forest fire outbreak,” an official press release stated.

Besides the aforementioned arrangements made by the civic authority, it is a fact that these arrangements proved a failure as in the last two weeks around eight incidents of fire eruption have been reported and the eruption of fire has become a matter of concern. It asks for a well devised policy as in case of any delay or laziness it can cause a bigger loss in the 12,605 hectares Margalla Hills.

Sources inside the CDA claimed that the problem had two faces, on one side the people who were visiting Margalla Hills showed a careless attitude and at the same time the CDA officials also failed to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.

While talking to Daily Times, Member Environment CDA Sanaullah Maan responded on the issue and said; “The authority is fully active and swiftly controls the fire whenever it erupts in Margalla hills, but we need to sought out the reason or elements behind the fire eruption incidents.”

He further said, “Today, we have discussed the issue with Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad Police, Superintendents Police (SPs) of City and Saddar. We agreed to establish a police post in the hills and we are also going to start joint patrolling of Islamabad Police and CDA officials to hold the responsible elements on the spot.”

Sanaullah Maan was of the view that mostly there are local people involved in the fire eruption incidents. He said “for instance in yesterday’s fire incident, it was on the top of hills where an ordinary visitor cannot reach.”

The member environment briefed, “We are fully prepared to respond to any fire eruption incident, our fire tenders are on standby at Pir Sohwa and we are taking help of sniffing dogs to point out fire in Margalla Hills, whereas awareness boards have also been placed for general public in the area.”

Sources inside CDA claimed that strict vigilance on the authority’s guards have also been initiated by the environment directorate as it was a routine there in the past that forest guards were absent from duty.