ISLAMABAD, May 25: Emergency Relief Cell (ERC) of the cabinet division on Saturday suspended the helicopter service which was being used for extinguishing fire on Margalla Hills, a well- informed source told Dawn.

The fire broke out near Kalinjar village, Sinyari Block on Wednesday. Later, it was extinguished and again erupted on Saturday at 12:35pm.

The source said the officials of environment directorate of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) asked the ERC to send choppers for extinguishing fire on the hills. However, the ERC replied that it would not provide the service unless the outstanding dues against the authority are paid.

The ERC had asked the authority to pay helicopter service charges amounting to Rs1 million.

On the other hand, the CDA official were of the view that the service was acquired in emergency as the ERC had been established for emergency purpose.

The source said the CDA staff could not extinguish fire without acquiring the ‘copter service.

A CDA official said the cause of fire that again broke out on Saturday could not be ascertained but some villagers caught a person red-handed while setting some bushes on fire. Later, he was handed over to the Kohsar police.

“We have already assured the ERC that the CDA will pay charges of the service later, but despite this the service was suspended,” he added.

He said the amount to pay charges of helicopter service would be allocated in the authority’s coming budget.

“The CDA has once again requested to the ERC to continue its service,” he said adding “however the ERC is reconsidering it.