Inquiry may expose illegal activities of CDA officials

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, May 18, 2009
Noor Aftab

Islamabad

A probe into cutting and selling of trees from a greenbelt is expected to expose illegal activities of some officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) who are violating laws for personal financial gains, well-placed sources told ‘The News’ here on Sunday.

Sources said that the decision to relocate some 50 trees, including 21 of ‘sheesham’, to Shakarparian from the greenbelt in front of the Fire Brigade Headquarters was taken to pave way for the construction of a road. But, they said, the trees, which were supposed to be shifted, were illegally sold by some officials.

Sources said that the ‘culprits’ tried to hide their crime when the high-ups of the CDA came to know about their illegal practice. “They cut down the upper parts of the already existing 50 trees at Shakarparian and used fresh soil around their roots to show that they were shifted and replanted there during the last few days,” sources said.

According to sources, when the CDA director general environment closely looked at the roots of the trees, he observed that these were old and not the ones that were cut down from the greenbelt in front of the Fire Brigade Headquarters.

“It led to the detection of another crime because the upper parts of the trees cut down at Shakarparian were also sold by those officials who earlier made money by selling 50 trees,” they said.

An official of the CDA told this correspondent that the officials responsible for selling trees maintained that they did it after securing a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Environment Directorate.

The existing rules and regulations only allow cutting of trees if they are damaged by strong winds or heavy rainfall. The issuance of the NOC in this case is illegal, he said.

When contacted, CDA Assistant Director Security Manzoor Hussain said that he has conducted a detailed inquiry into the case of sale of trees and submitted its report to Director Security Razzaq Kiyani.

He said, “Action would be taken against those responsible for selling trees but all powers in this respect rests with the higher authorities.”

CDA Member Environment Mazhar Hussain told ‘The News’ that the inquiry report has been submitted and charge-sheet was issued to those blamed for selling trees. These officials have been stopped from performing duties.

He said, “If it is proved that the accused officials have done an illegal act then action would be taken against them,” he added.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=178217