Housing societies reject RDA’s ‘forestation’ plan

Authority’s chairman asks developers to come up with alternative proposals for plantation drive in next meeting


Jameel Mirza March 28, 2019
Authority’s chairman asks developers to come up with alternative proposals for plantation drive in next meeting. PHOTO: FILE

RAWALPINDI: Housing societies have rejected Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) ‘forestation’ demand.

Thousand plants on every 100 kanal will make housing societies look like forests, said representatives of urban developers during a meeting with RDA chairman.

Refusing to comply with RDA directive to plant the given number of trees for acquiring clearance for housing societies, the developers said the idea was impractical.

RDA Chairman Arif Abbasi Ali Abassi had to adjourn the meeting for 15 days asking the builders and developers to come up with proposals for complying with PM Imran Khan’s green Pakistan vision.

The owners of private housing schemes have refused to comply with the orders of RDA for planting 1,000 plants on every 100 kanal in new and existing societies.

The representatives, owners and promoters of housing societies took a firm stance against the RDA’s decision that the authority would not approve any new housing society until it committed complying with the tree plantation orders. RDA has also warned of legal action against existing housing societies, which turn down its directive to plant 1,000 trees per 100 kanal.

The owners argued that this activity would transform the face of their societies into forests. They further objected that it would also make the provision of facilities like power, gas and water pipelines difficult.

On this inflexible stance, RDA chief adjourned the meeting for a fortnight and instructed the owners to come up with alternative recommendations.

Converting kanals in yards shows that 100 kanals is equal to 60,500 square yards. Planting 1,000 plants for every 60,500 square yards means one tree on every 60.5 square yards.

CCB plans adding more area to premises

As the number of residents soars, so does the need to facilitate them. The Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) has decided to add 200 kanals to its existing premises.

However, before issuing the notification, the board will seek objections from residents of adjoining residential areas by printing advertisements in the newspapers.

RDA demolishes offices of illegal housing societies

The decision was taken in the board meeting of Chaklala Cantonment Board held on Wednesday.

CCB President Shahzad Tanveer chaired the meeting attended by CCB Vice President Raja Irfan Imtiaz, Cantonment Executive Officer Syed Ali Irfan Rizvi, and nominated members.

The board also decided to confine the construction of Raheel Sharif Medical and Dental College to the college building only in the first phase.

The college hostel and doctors’ rooms will be later constructed on the availability of funds.

The meeting also approved the revision of tax on transfer of property as per the deputy commissioner rate, purchasing of essential equipment for Tahli Mohri and Tohmasabad dispensaries, purchasing of mobile phones for enforcement staff, deployment of new teachers and staff as well as increment in salaries of teachers.

The committee also endorsed the completion of development schemes as per the availability of funds.

Further, the elected members conveyed that some six educational institutions of CBB should be upgraded for the provision of better educational facilities however the committee delayed the matter until next meeting before reaching any conclusion. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2019.

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