ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced its plans to construct a five-kilometer-long road from Pir Sohawa to Bari Imam in the picturesque Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP).
According to Viqar Zakaria, a senior member of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), the stakeholders need to be consulted first as they are likely to see this project as another attempt to serve commercial establishments and real estate developments.
Furthermore, the CDA had set up the Monal Restaurant in the hills and leased it out to a private firm for 15 years.
However, the lease expired in September 2019, and the CDA did not make a new lease agreement due to claims by Army’s Remount, Veterinary and Farms Directorate on the land where the food outlet is set up.
Last year, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared the directorate’s claim void and directed the IWMB and CDA to seal the premises. Later, the company obtained a stay order from the Supreme Court.
According to sources, there are 13 other food outlets, including La Montana and Gloria Jeans, in Margalla Hills, which have been disturbing the flora and fauna.
CDA’s proposed project has drawn criticism as the previous road from Islamabad Zoo to the Gokina area, which was widened during the tenure of former chairman Kamran Lashari, had disturbed the ecosystem.
Zakaria rejected CDA’s claim that he had conducted two visits to the proposed road sites, while the CDA had confirmed that the IWMB member had conducted two visits to the proposed site.
Zakaria also suggested that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) following guidelines for sensitive habitats of Pak-EPA should be prepared before breaking ground.
CDA had stated, “We have already taken environmentalists on board, particularly Mr. Zakaria, held meetings and conducted site visits.” The project can only be executed after approval from the EPA.
Source: DAWN
Leave the Margalla hills alone. Stop expanding and stop commercialisng nature. This is the gem of Islamabad. Real estate mindset is turning Pakistan into a slum
Agreed
The CDA should stop to demolish the natural beauty of morgalla hills. The PM sb should take action agaist this illegal act of CDA.
agreed stay away from margalla hills
Absolutely correct
One thing the country never demolish or sell is her mountains.But CDA,frequently attempts to destroy the beauty and safety of its city.Margalla hills are not only the landmark of Islamabad but provides protection ,particularly when Defence has established it self at the foot hills of Margalla which is also an encroachment on the natural beauty especially,with the construction of road from D12 to E11 with the massive fly over on the Margalla road.How badly it will affect the the environment during this period of climate change, with rain water by disrupting the natural flow of the area and causing floods which it already does on the belt from Faisal mosque to E11 sectors.plz don’t interfere with mountains in the name of development,a stupid plan of shifting Defence here has already done irreparable damage to the land, mountains,environment,beauty and peace of mind of the citizens of Islamabad.
We congratulate CDA staff and Chairman on your Great vision for future of Islamabad residents. Sir please start New road for Peer Sohawa from Bari Imam. We All residents pray for your success to construct New road.
Aap koi property developer ho nature lover Nahi…
very good
CDA must start work as soon as possible to reduce burden on the old Damn e koh pirsohawa road constructed in early 80’s
CDA plz look toward stop where there is no space for sitting like gangal Khana .over head bridges are wrost condition 7
Stop damaging Margalla hills and nature. The nature will come back and haunt us.
I request CDA Chairman to reject this project. This will destroy the Margalla National Park and its beautiful environments. We the residents of Islamabad totally reject this idea of the Land mafia and will use all resources to stop this project ….In Shaa Allah.
I am in favor of the construction of the road project with ensuring natural beauty. There must be some project of cable car as well. And there must be some planned commercial activities on the top of hills facilitating prospective tourists. There will be a beautiful face of Islamabad, inshallah.
Please don’t spoil Margalla Hills…if it is given access to any one including CDA…land mafia will spoil complete beauty of Islamabad…for Allah sake leave it nature habitat
The CDA should stop to ruin the natural beauty of morgalla hills in the name development. I request the PM Shahbaz Sharif sb to take action against this illegal act of CDA. CDA should rather expand the forest in islamabad, should be CDA prime responsibility.
Leave hills alone
Why new projects are going to be held .? it is not necessary but , You have to renew the old one road towards margallah first…Have ever cda goes through the road towards any village in the way of top margallah near monal .?
We will not allow any one anybody to destroy the nature from the beginning….
Already monal,la montana type things are disasters decisions due to asarin environment of margala hills are damaged.
Even stop the running commercial activities,just provide small cafes without sitting capacity with light food let people to get natural environment,for rush food shoping roaming we have raja bazar.
Shame on CDA
CDA please dont go for this road. Dont ruin the nature any more.
MHNP are protected by law. It’s flora and fauna cannot be disturbed for any purpose… Supreme court of Pakistan rejected the tunnel project and got vacated Dara jangla.We the residents will ensure that every inch of MHNp is protected and any land mafia is defeated
I request CDA Chairman
Please check Master plan of Islamabad.
This is destroy the Margalla National Park and its beautiful environments.
We the residents of Islamabad totally reject this idea of the Land mafia and will use all resources to stop this project.
After 15 year or 10 New chairman of CDA or Members CDA say this is illegal project plan ex chairman announcement loss of national park and wasted of money.
Secendly action against Monal restaurant project team why approved illegal project.
Margalla Hills National Park is not only a scenic beauty but also a vital ecosystem that supports diverse flora and fauna. It’s essential for authorities to ensure that environmental impact assessments are conducted thoroughly and that alternative routes are explored to minimize any harm to the park. The opinions and concerns of environmentalists and conservationists should be given due consideration, and a balanced approach should be taken to strike a harmony between development and nature preservation.
25 villages are related with this project. Not only facilite this project also look after these villages because there is no transportion and any other road facilities.
Preserve Margalla National Park, instead of seeking approvals from EPA or any other authority, CDA has no better job to do. Civil society has been crying for protection of Margalla Hills Parks. Economic activity is not everything in nations lives and history. For keeping Margalla. Hills pristine environment, you need to keep indegenous flora, fauna, wild life of at least few patches of land intact. The area. s local flora, fauna, airs, waters, provide a site for environmentalists to make comparatives and impacts of economic development on the environment. In my opinion all universities should raise up theur voices, Local residents should protest and come out, Environmentalsts should stand up to get this project cancelled, stopped. p
نئی روڈ کی بجائے پرانی کچی سڑکیں جو قدیمی راستے ھیں ان کو مد نظر رکھ کر ۔۔۔ شاہدرہ اور قائد اعظم یونیورسٹی کے پیچھے سے روڈ کو منسلک کیا جائے ۔۔دامن کوہ والی روڈ کو ماحول کی ترجیحات کو سختی کے ساتھ مد نظر رکھتے ہوئے اگر کوئی بہتری اگر ہوسکتی ھے تو اسکو دیکھا جائے
مارگلہ نیشنل پارک کی موجودگی حیثیت کو کسی رہائشی منصوبوں یا اشرافیہ کی خوشنودی کے لیے ہرگز نہیں