Monal Restaurant to be razed as CDA asked to provide machinery

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has taken over the Monal and La Montana eateries situated inside the Margalla Hills National Park to demolish the structures and restore the affected area to its natural habitat.

In this regard, the wildlife board has requested the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the provision of heavy machinery and staff for the demolition of these restaurants. Sources said that the IWMB sought machinery to remove the structure and debris.

“As the possession has now been successfully taken over by IWMB, we are preparing to commence the demolition of the structures, in compliance of Supreme Court (order). In this regard, we kindly request the provision of the necessary machinery and staff…through the Machinery Procurement Office (MPO) of the CDA or otherwise as appropriate,” read the letter of IWMB.

Monal was set up by the CDA and it rented out the eatery in 2006 for 15 years. The lease agreement expired in 2021 but just a few years before the lease expiry, the management of Monal told the CDA that the civic agency was not the owner of the land rather the land belonged to the army.

Monal had started depositing partial payments to both organisations. However, the claim of the army’s Remount, Veterinary and Farms Directorate was rejected by the Islamabad High Court, which directed against commercial activities in the national park.

On August 21 this year, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of these restaurants. In its detailed order, the apex court had directed the IWMB to take possession of the restaurants namely Monal, La Montana and Gloria Jeans and obligated the CDA and the police to assist the wildlife board.