Fighting fires on Margalla

The time of the year is approaching when forest fires on the Margalla hills are about to begin. During the fire season, usually between April and June, there can be as many as half a dozen fires raging at any one time in different parts of the hills.

"What we need for timely control over these fires is simply one fire-fighting helicopter," says Mr Roedad Khan, president of the Margalla hills society. "But the provision of such a helicopter, which has been on the cards for several years now, has been stuck in bureaucratic wrangling between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Cabinet Division over who would foot the bill for the operational costs," Mr Khan revealed.

The story began several years ago when the task of preparing a report on fire prevention and protection in the Margalla hills national park was assigned by the World Bank to Mr Fred A. Fuchs of the United States Forest Service.

As per the report's recommendations, the Cabinet Division's Disaster Cell agreed to put one of its helicopters, earmarked for disasters like floods and earthquakes in the federal territory, at CDA's disposal for fire-fighting on the Margallas.

The project was taken up by the Environment Protection Council, the highest policy-making body on environment, and then approved by the cabinet. The necessary alterations were made and equipment was attached to equip the helicopter for fire-fighting.

The helicopter was to carry water from Khanpur Dam to the site of the fire. The crew was sent to the United States for specialized training in helicopter fire-fighting. But the helicopter never took off on its noble mission.

The Cabinet Division says that CDA should pay for the costs of operation because the Margallas are under its jurisdiction. CDA on the other hand says that financial responsibility lies with the Cabinet Division because the helicopter belongs to it.

Meanwhile, the fires on the Margallas raged on every season as the wrangling continued between the two organizations.

The sight of these fires on the Margalla range, which rises majestically as picturesque backdrop in the northwest of Islamabad city, causes heartache and anguish amongst many nature lovers and environmentalists.

The smoke is clearly visible by day from the plains of the capital as far as the airport in Rawalpindi and the raging orange flames are very prominent in the night. the majority of these devastating fires is caused by the carelessness of man himself.

It is usually started by a cigarette butt thrown from a cruising car or pickup, or thrown by a villager collecting dry wood in the hills for fuel and fodder. " We are hopeful that the helicopter will finally take off this season," says Mr Roedad Khan, who is also a member of the Environment Protection Council.

" This is because at a meeting of the Environment Protection Council nearly two months ago, the chief executive himself said that the helicopter will take off no matter who pays for the operational costs."

Source: Dawn.com

Toll tax to be increased

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to revise the toll tax in Islamabad and bring it at par with toll tax rates of National Highway Authority (NHA).

The decision to increase toll tax was taken at CDA's board meeting held here on Wednesday. The meeting was presided over by CDA chairman Khalid Saeed.

A senior CDA official told Dawn that CDA, which has levied a nominal toll tax, would seek government's approval before increasing the tax.

He said although the contract for toll tax collection had been awarded to the National Logistic Cell (NLC), the rates were fixed by the CDA.

The official said according to the CDA's rate, toll tax of Rs 2 are being charged for a car/cab, Rs 5 for a van, Rs 10 for bus and Rs 20 for a truck and trawler. NHA is charging Rs10 as toll tax for car/cabs, Rs15 for van, Rs25 for bus and Rs30 for a truck or a trawler.

The CDA board meeting also decided to revise the hiring charges of the Authority's construction machinery, which private contractors and government departments hire for construction purposes.

It was decided in the meeting that the allotment of a restaurant at Daman-i-Koh, which was earlier cancelled by the Authority, would be restored for the convenience of the visitors to that picnic spot.

The board meeting also approved the extension in service of consultant water quality control. It was also decided to allow the change of trade to the owners of those industries which have been declared dangerous for the environment.

Some of the steel industries in Islamabad's Industrial Area are reportedly polluting the environment and the Environment Protection Agency has issued notices to their owners either to control the pollution or close the units.

The owners of these industries and the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) have already sought CDA's permission for changing the trade.

Soure: Dawn.com