ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) on Tuesday accused the Capital Development Authority (CDA) staff of damaging public property and beating its employees who tried to stop them from collecting natural fertiliser from Trail 4 illegally.

CDA spokesperson Asif Shah, on the other hand, said the civic agency had already taken action and transferred the officials concerned. He said an investigation would also be carried out to ascertain facts.

A video clip showed CDA workers breaking the gate at the entrance to Trail 4 put in place to protect two leopards that roam in the Margalla Hills National Park. Images also showed signposts pulled out of ground and tossed to the side and barbed wire fences cut.

In response, the Ministry of Climate Change wrote a letter on behalf of the IWMB to the Ministry of Interior, complaining that the CDA officials reportedly removed a fixed gate of the board from Trail 4 to forcefully enter without any legal authorisation.

Incident occurred after civic body workers prevented from collecting natural fertiliser from Trail 4; CDA spokesperson says action already taken against relevant officials

“Moreover, IWMB employees have also been harassed, pushed and abused by CDA staff while performing their duties. A complaint in this regard has been forwarded to the station house officer (SHO) of Kohsar police for the registration of a first information report (FIR) against the culprits,” the climate change ministry said in a letter seen by Dawn.

The ministry requested appropriate legal action against the officials involved in the incident.

When contacted, IWMB Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan said the CDA sent staff to Trail 4 to forcibly remove leaves and earth to use them in their nurseries.

“This is against the IWMB rules. You cannot remove leaves/plants from the national park. When we stopped them, they broke our gate, forcefully entered the park and beat our staff,” Ms Khan claimed.

After the incident, the CDA transferred director environment, zoo and wildlife Rana Tahir Hassan Khan and deputy director nursery Rana Kashif Nazir. Two other officials - director general environment Naveed Khan Tareen and director environment Irfan Azim Khan Niazi - were also transferred, according to documents available with Dawn.

Another CDA official on condition of anonymity said: “CDA is assisting IWMB to the maximum. The feud is over ownership of public property. IWMB wants ownership of 80 acres of public land, which is not possible.”

Following Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders, the CDA has transferred management to the IWMB. The court did not order transferring title of ownership to the board, he added.

The CDA cannot transfer property, which is the prerogative of the Cabinet Division,” the official explained, adding the civic body would continue helping the board in protecting Margalla Hills.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2021