RCB fails to get desired response over shops’ auction

20 building owners get notices over unapproved building maps

RAWALPINDI: The cash-strapped Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) once again failed to allot 18 shops in its open auction due to poor response from investors.

The shops on Police Station Road, Railway Road and Messi Gate were put up on auction from September 23 to 25 but the process failed due to low attendance of investors. However, the officials have announced that they would conduct another auction at a later date.

According to the sources, the auction failed to attract investors due to the shops’ high monthly rent.

In this regard, RCB spokesperson Qaiser Mehmood admitted that the response was far below what was expected, however a new schedule would be issued soon.

He added that terms and conditions for renting out 36 shops in Westridge Bazaar would be revised too and they would then be put up for auction.

Public complaints resolved

Around 200 public complaints received in the month of September have been resolved by different departments of RCB.

Up to 191 of 316 complaints have been resolved thus far, while the remaining 125 would be resolved soon.

The electric and sanitation departments topped the list with resolution of 77 of 114 and 44 of 101 complaints respectively.

RCB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sibtain Raza has ordered to present a report after resolving all remaining complaints in order to provide best facilities to the residents.

Dengue operation

In the ongoing anti-dengue campaign, the RCB teams discovered a large quantity of dengue larvae during indoor and outdoor surveillance.

The indoor teams checked up to 1,830 houses and 5,265 containers and found a large quantity of dengue larvae which was destroyed.

Further, the outdoor teams inspected various spots in different areas including Saddar, British Homes, Naseerabad, Westridge, Misaryal Road etc and discovered larvae from 20 spots after which the related operation was carried out.

Illegal buildings get notices

RCB Building Control Department has issued notices to 20 building owners over unapproved building maps.

The buildings were located in different areas in cantonment jurisdiction including Marble Factory, Usmania Colony, Misaryal Road, Ahmedabad, Quaid-e-Azam Colony and Peshawar Road.

RCB directed the owners to submit buildings maps at the earliest or else the constructions would be demolished.

Improvement in water supply

In a bid to improve water supply system in cantonment areas, the board has decided to install an air-valve overflow system. The Additional Cantonment Executive Officer and related water supply officials visited different areas yesterday and ordered installation of an air valve overflow system for improvement in water supply system.

The officials said that they would take all possible steps to provide uninterrupted water supply to the people.

Action against unhygienic outlets 

RCB Food Branch has issued show-cause notices to up to 12 food outlets over unhygienic practices on Monday.

The branch inspected 25 eateries during inspections in different areas including Saddar, Peshawar Road and Aalaabad and issued notices to 12 of them over unhygienic practices in food making and poor cleanliness.

The branch also sent samples of 14 items to the laboratory for testing.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2019.