CDA seals IWMB information centres

Board official says action lacked prior notice

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has accused the Capital Development Authority (CDA) of illegally sealing the visitors' information centres at Trail-5 and 6 of the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) being managed by the board.

The IWMB chairperson Rina Saeed Khan took to her official handle on X (formerly Twitter) ‘to apprise the public of the rogue behaviour of the civic agency that took many aback’ as the visitor's information centres were the only source of guidance for local and foreign tourists visiting the national park's nature and biodiversity-rich hiking trails.”

In her X post, she wrote, "URGENT: CDA thugs have come this morning and taken over our Visitor Info Center on Trail 5 throwing out IWMB furniture. This building was made by Himalayan Wildlife Foundation not CDA and we have handing over documents. We are going to police and courts now!."

She also shared the official order of CDA allocating the land of existing information centres to the board for establishing its offices whereas any handing or taking over of the building would be carried out through the Environment Directorate of the CDA through intimation to the Authority's Administrative Directorate.

Read CDA barred from acquiring land

The board also issued a news a release stating that the federal development agency illegally sealed the visitor information centre located on Trail-5 and Trail-6.

"CDA officials broke the locks of the office including the conference room and took out the belongings. However, the building concerned was handed over to IWMB by the administration directorate of CDA after formal paperwork.

The statement further said “the CDA officials acted without notice and ignored all legal aspects."

When contacted, the CDA spokesperson hanged up and gave a silent treatment to the queries on the matter.

CDA Environment Directorate Director General Irfan Niazi was also contacted for his official version who also hung up the call and did not turn up to provide his version on the matter.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2024.