After ‘disappointing’ PM: Mayor gives encroachers three days to clear off

Despite grace period, CDA launches large scale operation against encroachments

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Mayor and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz on Monday met with senior CDA officials to chalk out a strategy to improve performance of the authority.

Sources said that the mayor swung into action after serious concerns over the unsatisfactory state of affairs regarding municipal and allied services provided by the CDA and the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) were articulated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week.

The prime minister had highlighted inefficient sanitation, lack of garbage collection and disposal, dilapidated footpaths and roads, worn down public parks, encroachments in markets and along the roads, missing streetlights, and unimpressive horticulture. The PM had subsequently directed the CDA to improve its work and service delivery.

In an official statement released by the civic agency on Monday, the mayor said that Islamabad’s distinction as a green and clean city would be upheld and that encroachments posed a major threat to the capital’s beauty and symmetry.

Moreover, he said that Islamabad needed to be purged of encroachments and that the concerned CDA and IMC formations should act swiftly, in unison to end encroachments in Islamabad.

Instead of identifying specific practical measures, he just said that an anti-encroachment drive should be launched with ‘full vigour and muscle’ and that a three-day deadline should be given to all encroachers to voluntarily remove their encroachments.

At the expiry of the terminal date, a full-fledged operation should be launched with all means and measures available.

He directed CDA and IMC officials to display warning banners around the city and also advertise in newspapers.

In the drive, CDA and IMC officials would target all illegal kiosks, tea stalls, illegal occupants of public sporting facilities, illegal tuck shops and pushcarts in parks and recreational areas.

The operation will further target illegal covered car parks and other illegal constructions in vacant plots outside houses in residential areas. Selling goods outside shops in commercial centres, markets, and class-III shopping centres will also be targeted during the operation.

Repair and washing of vehicles on green belts will also be targeted.

Soon after the directions were given, the CDA Enforcement Directorate took prompt action by launching an operation in Sectors G-11, G-11/1, G-11/2 and G-11/3 and demolished 16 kiosks, stalls and roadside restaurants.

CDA enforcement staff also demolished additional construction around 14 legally-allotted kiosks as the extensions encroached on CDA land.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2017.