Locals resist action against illegal housing in Zone-III Islamabad

In compliance of SC's orders, CDA launches operation against Green Meadows North Ridge Housing Society

ISLAMABAD: In compliance of Supreme Court’s orders, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday launched an operation against Green Meadows North Ridge Housing Society in Zone-III in the face of stiff resistance put up by local residents, forcing the operation to stop halfway.

However, little before sunset CDA team restored the operation and razed small rooms but the locals rushed to the spot and forced the officials to leave the area in a hurry without completing the demolition.

“Staff of the Enforcement Directorate, with the help of heavy machinery razed hut type rooms and removed boards of a society, while the entrance of a society from D-12 was also disconnected by digging deep ditches,” read the official statement issued by CDA. The authority had sent more than 300 people from its enforcement wing for the job.

Officers of Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) and heavy contingent of Islamabad police were also present.

The North Ridge Housing Scheme is being developed in Zone-III adjacent to D-12 illegally on state land.

As per Islamabad Zoning Regulation 1992 no construction can be carried out in the said area because it comes in the limits of Margalla Hills National Park which was notified under Section 21 of the Islamabad Wildlife Protection, Preservation and Conservation & Management Ordinance 1979.

A CDA source told The Express Tribune that the Islamabad Deputy Mayor Syed Zeshan Naqvi and Jamaat-e-Islami  local leader Zubair Farooq tried to stop CDA operation with the support of local residents.

Owing to the confrontation by locals, the Islamabad Additional Deputy Commissioner Capt (retd) Shoaib Ali also reached the spot and started dialogues between CDA and local residents to avoid any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, Mayor Anser Aziz, I a statement, vowed that campaign against illegal construction and encroachments would continue without any fear and favour.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2017.