Tug of war: Illegal buildings in Hyd Cantt put councillors, CEO in crosshairs

CEO insists law doesn't allow them to raise objections 12 months after project completion

HYDERABAD: The existence of unauthorised building structures in Hyderabad Cantonment Board has seemingly pitted the newly elected councillors and the chief executive officer (CEO) against each other.

The former wants surveys and subsequent action on such structures while the latter is perceived to be evading action.

"Although we know about several such buildings, we want to find out through an official survey what's the actual position," explained Abdul Rasheed Malik, the cantonment's elected vice-president, who represents the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). "We don't want to demolish them but only [make sure] they are identified and to ensure they get approval from the authority and pay taxes."

The councillors, who were elected on April 25 this year in the cantonment elections held after a long interlude of 17 years, have pointed out 25 to 30 such structures, mainly multiple-storey buildings. But they believe the actual number is likely to be higher, mainly in Saddar and Defence areas.

The councillors requisitioned a second meeting of the board,  which comprises 12 elected and 13 nominated members headed by the station commander as its president and CEO Omer Siddique Chaudhry as secretary — on October 2. The agenda, jointly formed by the MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party's elected councillors, was these unauthorised structures.

Chaudhry failed to attend the meeting held on October 6, citing health reasons. Meanwhile, CBH president and station commander Shahid Mehmood and other nominated officials who attended the meeting supported the councillors' demand.

During the meeting, the councillors even went on to verbally request the Combined Military Hospital's head Brig Munir Ahmed, who is a nominated member, to form a medical board to examine Chaudhry's health.

Simultaneously, the CEO also disputed in writing to a meeting of the CBH's assessment and buildings committees, which the station commander called at the station headquarters. In his letter, he argued that it is unlawful to convene such a meeting at the station headquarters.

The councillors, who spoke to The Express Tribune, requesting anonymity, claimed that Chaudhry is reluctant to take action against the structures in question. On his part, Chaudhry contended that since he assumed the charge in April 2013, no commercial building project has come to his office for approval.

"And for the existing structures built in violation of the laws, we served notices under Section 185, which pertains to self removal or approval of a structure," he told The Express Tribune.

The councillors and the CEO have conflicting stances on the existing unauthorised structures. "The law doesn't allow any action after a period of 12 months of completion of a project. If any notice has to be served, it ought to be done within these 12 months," said Chaudhry.

The councillors questioned, however, if the provision preventing action against these structures really exists, then what explains the CEO's aversion from the meetings.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2015.