ISLAMABAD: The environment wing of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) in alleged connivance with a contractor got several rare sheesham trees (rosewood) chopped in Sector 1-8 last week.

Local residents said at least eight sheesham in their productive age of 20 years were illegally cut along with several paper mulberry trees.

Sources said after placing an advertisement in the press the environment directorate auctioned trees in around two dozen houses in various sectors.

“I am not aware of felling of trees illegally in the I-8 sector. Let me make it clear I will hold an inquiry and all the officials found involved will be taken to task,” said Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz, who is also the CDA chairman.

Contractor, in alleged connivance with environment wing staff, also cut several paper mulberry trees

“There is a complete ban on cutting of trees in Islamabad,” the mayor added.

The sources said the contractor was given the task of felling trees around houses after the residents complained that the trees posed a threat and may fall.

However, in Sector I-8, the contractor in alleged connivance with the environment wing staff cut eight sheesham along with some paper mulberry and two banyan (bohar) trees.

During a visit to the I-8 sector, Dawn noticed stumps of the sheesham, paper mulberry and banyan trees which were chopped from the right of way of a double road.

Interestingly, several officers of the CDA are also living in the sector.

“If trees are not safe in this sector what one can expect about their safety in other sectors,” said an officer of the CDA who also lives in the I-8 sector.

He said there was a racket in the MCI environment wing which was behind illegal cutting of trees in entire Islamabad.

“There were pending inquiries into cutting of trees, including one in the Diplomatic Enclave. But so far no action has been taken against those involved in this activity,” said the officer.

“Since I’m living in this sector I myself know that trees which were recently cut were around 20 years old,” he said.

The sources in the CDA and MCI said under the rulers of the environment wing, which has now been devolved to the MCI, there was no provision to cut a tree until it hampered any construction activity.

“Just to promote illegal tree cutting, the CDA/MCI are not paying any heed towards numbering of the trees. Wherever a tree is cut illegally, our staff put mud and bushes on its stump to remove the evidence,” said an official of the environment directorate.

He claimed that in almost all the so-called auctions of trees, which were mostly called through notices affixed on the notice boards, the contractors in connivance with the CDA/MCI staff chopped extra trees.

“In the open market, sheesham is available at Rs1,500 per cubic foot and here the contractor illegally cut eight trees. The issue of I-8 sector got attention because some CDA officers are living there. The official claimed that a couple of months ago dozens of young paper mulberry trees were chopped in F-9 Park but the environment wing removed the evidence.

“In F-9 Park, we engaged a contractor to cut undersize trees of paper mulberry (less than five inch in diameter). But the contractor chopped dozens of mature trees as well,” the official claimed.

When contacted, Director Environment Irfan Niazi acknowledged that sheesham trees were illegally chopped at Sector I-8. “I have issued a show-cause notice to the concerned forest guard,” he said.

Director General Environment Wing Dr Suleman Sheikh told Dawn that the matter was not in his notice. “I’m not aware of the issue but if sheesham trees have been chopped this is a violation of the law and we will take action,” he said, adding there was no provision allowing cutting of trees from the right of way and other green areas.

Asked about the auctions in which contractors were reportedly engaged through internal announcements, the DG said: “Since we mostly engage contractors for cutting trees on small scales such as from around houses and parks, we announce it through notices. But for the cutting of big trees we follow a proper auction process,” he said.

“I will take action against those found involved in the cutting of trees from I-8 but I don’t think young trees were cut in F-9 Park,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2017