Passing the buck: CDA urges Capital admin to stop illegal construction

Civic agency wants provision of utility services to unauthorised buildings halted

ISLAMABAD: In what is another bid to crack down on unauthorised and illegal construction in the capital, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has asked various utility companies to stop providing services to such buildings.

Moreover, the Islamabad administration has been requested to impose Section 144 on illegal construction in the capital. On Tuesday, CDA Member Planning  Asad Kayani wrote letters to Islamabad Capital Territory Deputy Commissioner, and chief executives of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Sui Northern Gas Pipe Line Ltd (SNGPL) to impose ban on the provision of utility services to buildings which did not have the CDA’s approval or no-objection certificates.

Kayani has also requested the Islamabad administration to stop illegal construction and restrict the registration deeds within ICT Limits.

However, sources in CDA told The Express Tribune, on the condition of anonymity, that Tuesday’s action was merely a paperwork and that these measures were unlikely to yield results unless the CDA takes practical steps by fully utilising its field departments to check and implement building by-laws and ICT Regulations.

The official added that the CDA had paid IESCO and SNGPL for laying a network of electric and gas pipelines within the capital and that principally it was CDA which had the authority to approve utility services for any housing societies in the capital.

The Building Control Section (BCS) of the civic agency had failed to adequately implement building by-laws and zoning regulations thereby controlling illegal constructions and curbing violations.

In the letter to Islamabad deputy commissioner, Kayani stated that as per CDA ordinance 1960 and Islamabad Residential Sectors Zoning (Building Control) Regulations 2005 no building could be constructed within ICT limits without prior approval from the CDA. Kayani further stated a number of buildings were being constructed illegally in the capital without securing approval from CDA.

This ‘haphazard’ construction, the CDA official noted, was in contravention to regulations.

Further, Kayani said that estate was being bought and sold through registered deeds without the requisite CDA approval.

The CDA urged the Islamabad administration to restrain residents from carrying out illegal construction within the ICT limits and control illegal land subdivision and construction, registration deeds for sale and purchase of properties within ICT limits.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2017.