Punjab

100 illegal colonies demolished in Multan

City commissioner directs strict action against illegal colonies

Our Correspondent March 12, 2018

A large number of people have allegedly built illegal houses and shops on the embankments of the canals of the Sukkur Barrage. These illegal localities have grown into big colonies, where all civic facilities, including, electricity, gas and telephone connection are available. PHOTO: EXPRESS

MULTAN: As many as 100 illegal residential colonies have been demolished and notices were sent to 199 other illegal colonies between March 2017 and February 2018. As many as 82 others have been challaned and FIRs were registered against 43 such illegal colonies.

Multan Division Commissioner and MDA Director General Bilal Ahmad Butt told The Express Tribune that strict orders have been issued against the increasing number of illegal residential colonies in the city. All the offices including MEPCO, SNGPL, PTCL and other departments, were directed not to provide any kind of services in residential colonies without the provision of No Objection Certificate (NOC). He said the amount of fine on illegal construction has been increased to discourage sprawling illegal colonies.

“Orders have been passed to all the officials concerned to ensure the implementation of rules and regulations in this regard. A committee, under the leadership of MDA Additional Director General Rizwan Qadeer, has been constituted. This committee will submit its report soon,” he said.

The commissioner further said citizens have also been warned against illegal colonies through advertisements in print and electronic media. “We have informed the developers about the initial approval and other procedures,” he remarked.

Butt further told The Express Tribune that the fertility of land was decreased because of the expansion of residential colonies.

Commenting on the issue, MDA Additional Director General Qadeer said 48 such cases were in courts and their decision would be out soon. When asked about the legal standing of such schemes, he said all the information was available at the website of Multan Development Authority and there was a mobile app for the ease of property buyers. He said legal action would be taken against the owners of illegal residential colonies under section 34(1) and (2) of the Punjab Development of Citizen Act.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2018.