ISLAMABAD: The inquiry into alleged misappropriation in procurement and installation of wireless system by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) remains inconclusive. The system was procured by the CDA in 2011 to enable its employees who perform duty at the Margalla Hills to report the movements of poachers and fire.

The employees of the forest and environment department could even call for help if they spot any animal in distress at the Margalla hills or in the forest area around Rawal lake, etc.

The director general Environment Dr Sheikh Suleman had ordered the inquiry in October 2012and constituted an inquiry committee headed by director-general, Environment II, which submitted its report by the end of 2012.

The inquiry report said that work was awarded on June 25, 2011, just five days before the close of the fiscal year and the first payment of Rs3.2 million was paid in June 30, 2011 and the second of Rs4.92 million on June 30, 2012, the report said.

The inquiry report has pointed out various lacunas in the deal including late filing of the second bill that is after one year.

When the inquiry committee grilled the relevant account officer, he said since the bill was presented to him on the last working day of the fiscal year 2011-12, he overlooked the date as he was preoccupied with the work.

The inquiry report also highlighted that the first running bill was signed by Akhtar Rasool as Assistant Director (AD) Forest but he was posted AD Damn-e-Koh at that time.

Furthermore, the inquiry report said that the wireless system was not even installed in the relevant areas and hence remained non-functional.The case was brought to the notice of CDA management in October 2012 by an employee of the CDA, who in a written complaint to the senior management of the civic body, alleged that the officers concerned have obtained kickbacks in the wireless deal.

On the other hand, one of the officers concerned nominated in the inquiry told Dawn that the wireless system was a high-tech equipment but the relevant staff could not handle it, as a result the software of the whole system rendered useless.

The case was taken up by the previous member environment Ahsan Ali Mangi, prior to his departure from the CDA in last week of December 2013 and it was agreed that the forest department would get the software installed to make the wireless system operative.

A senior official of the environment wing acknowledged that wireless system was essential prior to the onset of summer months when fire breaks out at the Margalla hills. However, even the installation of software has been delayed as the contractor was busy in some family affairs, the official added.