Monsoon preparedness: 700 buildings identified as dangerous

LAHORE: As many as 700 buildings across the city have been identified as unfit for use. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has asked the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) to launch an operation to evacuate or demolish these dilapidated buildings. This statistic was compiled through surveys conducted by the administrations of nine towns. According to statistics compiled by the town administrations, 453 of these buildings were in areas under the jurisdiction of the C DGL and 264 in those of the WCLA. Of the 264 buildings, 68 were demolished by the WCLA last year. Municipal Services EDO Sardar Naseem said that under the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP), the town administration were authorised to ensure that all buildings in their jurisdictions were fit for use. He said under the SoPs, owners of dangerous buildings were first issued notices asking them to immediately vacate the premises to allow the government to repair it or demolish it on their own expense ahead of monsoon season.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2016.