24-hour deadline: SBCA set to demolish all unapproved building floors in Hyderabad

Move means of receiving bribes for SBCA officials, say builders

HYDERABAD: In a first, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has announced a demolition drive against the apartment and commercial buildings in Hyderabad where additional floors have been built without approval.

Although SBCA has not yet revealed the number of buildings that have been served notices, builders claim 94 such structures have been identified and around 25 of them have been notified so far.

On Wednesday, the demolition staff reportedly took action on five buildings in different parts of Latifabad, during which they had a clash with the builder and staff of one of the buildings. However, SBCA Deputy Director Salman Yousuf, who is also the acting spokesperson, declined to share details of Wednesday's operation while talking to The Express Tribune.



He said the authority will be able to provide the precise details by today (Thursday) when the campaign will resume for the second consecutive day.

"SBCA has initiated action against additional floors [that have been] built in violation of [SBCA's] approval," read a press statement issued by the authority, which appealed to the people for cooperation in their own interest.

"… site inspection reveals that you have carried out construction in gross violation of the approved building plan dated January 3, 2014," read a notice served to Shifa Builders and Developers on May 15.



The language of other notices is also similar except for the changes in the name of the builder and the dates of approval.

All the notices gave only 24 hours to the builders for removal of 'deviations', failing which the SBCA would raze the additional storeys.

While the issues of a lack of electric and water supply, effective drainage systems, roads and cleanliness remain unaddressed, the last decade has seen a surge in the vertical growth of structures in Hyderabad.

Builders' reaction

The Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan's (Abad) Hyderabad region chapter alleged the demolition move to be harassment in order to compel the builders to bribe the newly-posted SBCA officials.

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"The new regional director, Muhammar Amir Bhanbro, and assistant director, Rashid Narejo, are behind the plan to extort bribes," alleged Faraz Memon, Abad Hyderabad region's vice-chairperson.

However, he emphasised that the builders would not cave in to the pressure and have already submitted five petitions in the Sindh High Court for a stay.

"A 24-hour deadline [to demolish floors built without approval] is itself impractical and shows their [SBCA's] intention is in anything except compliance with the rules," Memon said, adding that Abad ensures its members comply with the building regulations.



He claimed the rules allow up to 20% violation of the approved plan. "The precedent has been SBCA imposes a penalty and regularises around 20% of the violations," he maintained, pointing out that the addition of a floor also falls under such violation.

According to Abad, the rules allow construction of up to five-floor buildings on a 60-feet-wide road. A 10 to 11 floors structure can be raised on a road which is 150-feet-wide.

Meanwhile, SBCA's Yousuf contended the interpretation of allowing violations to a certain degree is misread. "These excuses are fabricated to mislead the innocent buyers [of apartments]," Yousuf said, asserting SBCA will continue with the drive unless a high court stay compels them to stop taking action.

Swift action: Workers of Sindh Building Control Authority knock down pillars during demolition of 'illegal' floors in commercial buildings of Hyderabad. PHOTO: ONLINE