GDA Director General (DG) Nazar Shah submitted the report to the high court on Monday through his lawyer Azhar Kundi stating all encroachments have been removed from the area on the PHC’s directives.
Speaking to the media on the high court premises, DG Shah said, “We have contacted several international construction companies and they have completed a master plan for the construction of seven model towns from Changla Gali to Nathiagali.”
According to Shah, the aim of the project was to preserve the natural beauty of the area and attract tourists. “Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has sanctioned funds for the project and work will begin soon,” stated the DG.
He added the demolition of encroachments has solved traffic problems in Galiyat.
“We initiated a grand operation against builders who had constructed their buildings in violation of building rules,” said Shah.
Only two-storey buildings are allowed in the area but there were many houses and buildings which had been constructed in violation of the law. He added, “They had severely damaged the natural beauty of Galiyat.”
Court intervention
Taking notice of the increasing number of housing schemes in Galiyat, in November last year former chief justice Dost Muhammad Khan banned the allotment of plots to any housing society without the permission of the court. The former CJ also directed the chief minister to form a high-level committee to prepare a master plan for the area.
On June 3, NAB deputy prosecutor general informed the court that 42 buildings were in violation of regulations. In September, the GDA clarified its position on each of the 42 buildings and highlighted 21 other violations. However, since then little has been done by the government about the master plan.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter, in October the court appointed a commission comprising Hazara Commissioner Arbab Muhammad Arif, World Wildlife Fund’s Muhammad Ibrahim, K-P Environmental Protection Agency Director Muhammad Bashir, GDA DG Nazar Shah and other officials.
The commission was tasked with submitting its report on the status of the ‘Master Plan of Galiyat’ including its purpose, date of preparation, any modification at a later stage and details of its violation if any.
The commission would also report on the status of the ‘Building Regulations’. The commission is also supposed to identify shortcomings in the master plan and building plan, suggest amendments for conservation as steps that should be taken to reverse the environmental damage in the area.
The court also sought a report on whether the master plan and building regulations were formed after taking into consideration the sensitivity of Galiyat’s environment and were in line with the requirements of environmental laws.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2014.
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