Land grabbers issued ‘red notices’

RDA chief warns occupants to vacate encroached govt land or face bulldozers

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has decided to retrieve its 48 kanal expensive land worth billions of rupees in the city’s important and most expensive areas. In the first phase, 17 influential people who have grabbed the same number of properties have been issued red notices.

RDA Chairman Arif Abbasi has summoned the list of the land last week. The land grabbers’ mafia has been asked in the notice to evacuate the land within seven days after which the construction would be bulldozed and taken over. The authority has asked for a police contingent from the district administration for this operation. A magistrate will oversee the operation on the spot. These are a total of 17 properties which RDA plans to repossess.

Also, it has also been decided to retrieve Water and Sanitation land worth billions of rupees. WASA too has presented the list of its land to the chairman.



These encroachers and land grabbers will be issued notices on Monday. After retrieving the land, it would be used for public purposes. It would be given on lease according to market rates.

Earlier, this week, RDA chairman had directed the authorities to regularise the shops and plazas constructed illegally particularly at City Saddar Road.

He had directed the RDA officers to issue final notices to the owners of the shops and plazas constructed illegally at City Saddar Road, giving seven-day time to regularise the buildings. He had said that no relaxation should be given to any violator.



He instructed the officers to ensure recovery of fines from the owners of illegal constructions so that the income of the authority could be enhanced.  

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2018.