Illegal constructions at Margallas questioned

Parliamentary panel takes notice of plots allotment, unchecked construction.


Azam Khan April 04, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


A parliamentary panel on Monday took serious note of haphazard construction in the forest area of the federal capital.


The National Assembly Standing Committee on Environment expressed concern over illegal construction of hotels and restaurants which was spoiling the environment of the Margalla Hils that has been declared National Park.

Earlier, on the intervention of the cabinet, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), had proposed changes in the zoning regulations of Zone-III and Zone-IV, allowing commercial activities in the two zones.

MNA Raja Muhammed Asad, chairman of the committee, said that there is a need to check the illegal and unplanned construction in the hills to save the beauty of Islamabad. “We need to make stringent legislation to control this messy construction in the green areas,” he said. The secretary, environment, told the committee that under the law no construction could be made in Zone-III and described any such activities illegal.

The committee directed the CDA to take concrete steps for the protection of green character of the capital city. The committee comprises members of parliament, officials of environment ministry and CDA. The committee discussed matters of land purchased and sold in Zone-III of Islamabad during the last five years.

The body asked CDA to take necessary steps against further allotments and construction of hotels in the National Park area in future. The committee directed the CDA to submit the names of the allottees/lessee of hotels and restaurants in Zone-III within seven days.

The committee also showed concern on allotment of land to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and political secretary to president, Rukhsana Bangash at Daman-e-Koh for construction of restaurants. “Under which clause was this land allocated to them,” the committee members questioned CDA officials.

The CDA officials informed the committee that land had been allotted to several security agencies under the directives of interior minister.

Director General Urban Planning of CDA Sarwar Sindhu admitted that illegal and informal construction was going on in the areas which were under the jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory. Sindhu, however, said CDA had been successful in removing about 80 per cent of the unplanned constructions in Zone-III during the last five months since the launching of an operation against land grabbers and illegal structures.

He sought cooperation of all the departments concerned to discourage the trend jointly. Technical adviser on environment said the civic body was not solely responsible for all the mess. “It is better to contribute constructively, rather than to blame the CDA,” he remarked.

MNA Nousheen Syed suggested to set up a drive-in cinema in F-9 Park for the citizens. She said that such a step not only provides an entertainment facility to the people but can also prove to be a good source of revenue generation for the civic body. She, however, said that the National Park areas must be protected from any illegal construction. The committe recommended that the Ministry of Environment might not be devolved to the provinces as per international treaties.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2011.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ