Visitors warned against bathing in trails’ spring waters

Official says recent rains revitalise freshwater springs

ISLAMABAD:

Heavy rainfall in the federal capital has significantly revitalized the water levels of the freshwater springs located at the trails. In this regard, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has warned the hikers, tourists, and visitors venturing into the scenic Margalla Hills National Park from bathing in these freshwater springs.

Chairperson, IWMB, Rina Saeed Khan said, "I know it's exciting to see so much water in trails inside MHNP but swimming or bathing in water, especially at Trail 5 is strictly prohibited”. Moreover, IWMB patrolling is now being strengthened as several people were caught bathing and swimming in the springs and will be dealt with under Wildlife Ordinance.

The Hills National Park is rich in biodiversity and ecology spreading over an area of 17,000 hectares facing serious risks due to wildfires, arson, poaching, hunting, and tree cutting. The chairperson said that the preservation and protection measures by the IWMB through public and community mobilisation have helped to control deforestation and enhance green cover in the protected area.

She said that the conservation efforts had also improved vegetation on the hiking trails and across the national park that replenished the aquifers of the Margalla Hills. Moreover, these recent rains have significantly improved water levels, especially at trail-6 where all water springs are filled with water stretching over some three kilometres area.

Furthermore, she said that the IWMB rangers and patrolling staff have also successfully removed “Lantana camara” which was an invasive species that used to suck lots of water from underground reservoirs. She underlined that the IWMB staff patrolling has improved in the National Park to control tree cutting, pollution, littering in the protected area, and bathing in the freshwater springs.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2022.