With rising temperature: More wildfires erupt on Margalla Hills

Discord amongst CDA, wildlife board may hamper firefighting efforts


Our Correspondent May 25, 2018
Somke rises from Margalla Hills where widlfire broke out at different places. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: As the mercury starts to rise after another spell of rains, fires have started to break out over the Margalla Hills again with multiple fires erupting at different places.

The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Environment Wing claimed to have overcome the fire completely after launching a hectic firefighting operation which continued through Wednesday night and up until noon on Thursday.

Officials, however, said that they have yet to ascertain reasons for the latest outbreaks.

“The first fire was reported at 3pm on Wednesday, around 300 metres below Monal which was controlled by our firefighters,” CDA Environment  Director Irfan Niazi told The Express Tribune, adding that the second fire flared up in jungle 14, near ‘Solan De Dhari’ on Wednesday evening. This fire was extinguished early on Thursday morning around the time for sehri.

The fire in jungle 14 flared up again at another site, ostensibly spread by blowing winds. This blaze raged and spread to some adjoining areas.

Niazi said that they extinguished this fire by the afternoon on Thursday.

April blaze: Fresh forest fire erupts on Margalla Hills

A wildfire also broke out at two more places in jungles 11 and 14 on Thursday morning. These were also put out by evening with 200 CDA environmental staff involved in combating the inferno.

There is an ambiguity persisting between the CDA and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board over who is responsible for extinguishing fires on the Margalla Hills. While the board at times takes lead in firefighting operations on the Margalla Hills, limited resources mean that CDA’s firefighters are then called in to finish the job.

Niazi added that the CDA used to hire around 400 locals on daily wages during the summer fire season to fight wildfires in the jungles of the Margalla Hills.

Army helicopters, PAF extinguishing Margalla Hills fire

However, despite securing approval, the authority’s finance wing had refused to allocate funds for the hires since the board had taken responsibility for extinguishing fires on the hills.

Niazi explained that the board has a meagre staff of 35 officials which was insufficient to extinguish wildfires. “We have clearly told them [wildlife board] that next time, CDA’s environment wing will not come to help them combat a fire,” Niazi said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2018.

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