ISLAMABAD: Three days have gone but sudden fire which was erupted on theMargalla Hills on Thursday could not be controlled.
After failure of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Pakistan Army wascalled to help in extinguishing the fire on Friday.
According to sources, four helicopters and Air Force remained busy inextinguishing the fire while contingents of Pakistan Army and officers weresent to airlift the local people to safer places.
Millions of rupees trees and bushes have been burnt to ash while wildspecies fleeing towards surrounding hills.
Thousands of people from across Pakistan daily visit the Margalla Hills toenjoy their beauty. But the fire has polluted the pure environment of thecapital’s hills.
Visitors, while strongly criticizing failure of the CDA to control over thefire, demanded of the government to take solid measures to control fire andto take action against those found involved in negligence.
It is the responsibility of the CDA to provide security to the MargallaHills. However, due to the incompetency of the competent authority, thefires have been damaging the beauty of the capital’s hills for the lastmany years.
It has become a routine affair that the fire erupts in the Margalla Hillsand due to incompetency of the authority.
When CDA member planning and Chief Metropolitan Asad Mehmood Kyanicontacted, he said that they are putting efforts to control over the firebut the fire area is far away from main road due to which the departmentofficials facing problems in controlling the fire. He said now helicoptersare being used to sprinkle water on the fire area.
It is pertinent to mention here that the annual budget of the CDA is equalto the budgets of Baluchistan and AJK. It has been holding responsibilityof the Margalla National Park for the past 40 years but it still lacksequipment and machinery to control fire.