ISLAMABAD: The National Park area may be handed over from the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) environment wing to the Wild Life Management Board (WLMB).

CDA chairman and Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz said the WLMB has been demanding the wildlife and National Park area should be handed over to them and that the CDA wants it to remain under the administrative control of the civic agency.

WLMB representative Dr Anisur Rehman said the CDA was not capable of handling the National Park area and it should therefore be handed over.

According to a document available with Dawn, a meeting has been called on Aug 18 at the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), to discuss the transfer of the area from the environment directorate to the WLMB.

A CDA official said Dr Rehman, who is a dentist, has been trying to get control of the National Park, zoo and even the Environment Wing’s staff.

“Due to the proposal, WLMB has already started interfering in matters of the Environment Wing and has also been giving orders. The board has started appointing its own officers and deputes them in the park area. Some 6,000 people work in the Environment Wing and they are panicking and wondering if they will be dismissed. Also, how will government employees work in a private organization,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Rehman said the Islamabad Wildlife Ordinance was promulgated in 1979 and the wildlife board was notified in 1980 but never met. In 2004, the board was notified again but also never met again.

He said the WLMB has protected the Deosai National Park, brown bear and made the Mahseer National Park in AJK to save fish.

“We had a wild goat in the Himalayas up to 20 years ago which has gone extinct since. We do not want to dismiss anyone from their job and want to work in collaboration with the CDA. It is a fact that there are huge encroachments in the National Park area and the forests are being cut. We just want to save the park and will pay the staff more salaries,” he said.

Dr Rehman said the CDA is not capable of handling and preserving the National Park area.

On the other hand, the CDA chief said the civic agency will consider the proposal and that the administrative control will remain with the CDA.

“We have been consulting with the legal wing as well and will consider different forums,” he added.

PM Briefed on CDA Affairs

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting at the Prime Minister House on Wednesday during which he was briefed on the affairs of the CDA.

The premier said the civic agency should devise innovative solutions for urban and rural land development and that it should ensure sectoral integration.

He also stressed on the need for redressal mechanisms regarding public grievances on municipal affairs. Encroachments must be stopped and roads should be designed so they are commuter friendly, he said.

He directed CADD to submit a comprehensive presentation on proposals and their implementation mechanisms for making CDA an innovative and a public friendly organization.

Minister of State for CADD Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Mayor Islamabad and Chairman CDA Sheikh Anser Aziz Sheikh and other senior government officials were present during the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2017