CDA drive against illegal connections in E-type govt houses today

Unlawful water, gas and power connections in homes of govt officers to be severed

As part of its ongoing campaign, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will start a drive against illegal connections in the homes of government officers of the basic pay scale (BPS) grade 16 and 17 on September 9 (today).

So far, the authority has surveyed the homes of officers of grade 18 and 19 and removed illegal connections.

In a city of well-connected bureaucrats, the CDA has started a drive against illegal connections in government accommodations.

“Cut water, electricity and gas connections it if it is illegal, is the order of the day,” said a CDA employee.

CDA Member Administration Yasir Pirzada has given the go ahead for the operation against the illegal connections. Apart from the connections, illegally installed suction motors on water supply lines in government housings are also being removed under the campaign.

During the campaign, initiated on orders from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), 21 suction pumps were confiscated from ‘F’ and ‘G’ type government quarters allotted to grade 18 and 19 officers in different sectors of the capital on Thursday.

According to the CDA, the ongoing drive began in the last week of August with the CDA, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) have formed joint teams against illegal connections.

During the operations, inspection teams visited 541 government houses were conducted in sectors G-6/3, G-6/4, F-6/3, F-6/4, G-8/2, I-8/1, G-10/2 and G-10/3.

To make the operation successful, the CDA will seek the coordination of police and the area’s magistrate.

After completing an inspection of F, G and Category–II type government accommodations, the teams will start action against E-type accommodation meant for grade 16 and 17 officers on Saturday.

A progress report in this context has been prepared and would be presented to the IHC on September 11.

Member Administration Yasir Pirzada has said that the campaign has not only helped achieved the desired results but also help highlight the discrepancies and shortcomings in the service delivery.

He said comprehensive planning would be made on the basis of the report to provide improved civic amenities to humanity.

It is pertinent to mention here that CDA has already warned the residents of government houses through advertisements in the media before the initiation of this operation for removal of illegal connections of water, electricity and gas and suction motors.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2017.