WCLA seals, demolishes illegal structures to send out warning

Illegal constructions continue to be a menace and threaten historic structures

LAHORE: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has recently sealed and partially demolished as many as nine illegal properties which were threatening historic structures inside the old city.

The properties were in Bazar Sheikhupuriyan, Taranum Chowk Taxali Gate and Mori Gate,  including structures near Haveli Qabli Mahal, Rang Mahal Chowk, Haveli Heera Pehlwan, Farshi Bazar and Chunna Mandi inside Kashmiri Gate, and Kocha Gulzari inside Shah Alami Gate. According to the data provided by WLCA officials, the building control department of the WLCA has served 238 first notices and issued second notices to 124 builders in the last one year.



The authority sealed 107 properties besides launching 107 FIRs and partially demolishing 65 illegally constructed buildings. It also sent out 186 complaints to the magistrate. According to Building Control Deputy Director Riffat Pasha, illegal constructions continue to be a menace inside the old city and threaten historical structures.



“Taxali Gate is a sensitive area and of much architectural value. That is why our team is concentrating in this area,” Pasha said. “We have to survey the entire walled city on a regular basis and are trying to issue a strong warning to illegal contractors by partially demolishing and sealing buildings inside Taxali Gate.”

Conservation and Urban Planning Director Najamus Saqib said illegal constructions, which have been appearing overnight for years, damaged the original fabric of the walled city. He said the building control department of WCLA has increased its strength in terms of enforcement and field staff.



“The purpose is to create a more vigilant mechanism for the walled city and ensure round-the-clock surveillance of the streets and market areas to keep an eye on any construction,” he said. Saqib said the department has a one-window mechanism for the approval of plans of any walled city resident who wants to make alterations and additions to their property.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said it was important to save the heritage and original fabric of the city. He voiced hope that with the increased capacity of the Building Control team, enforcement will be at a steadier pace.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2017.