No check on illegal construction

Anti-Corruption Establishment arrested a number of RMC officers

RAWALPINDI:

The city authorities after allowing at least 100 buildings to be constructed illegally have simply changed a number on the file cover of the survey report on illegal construction from 2020 to 2021.

According to RMC sources, buildings do not pop up overnight, howver, the relevant departments allow the builders to continue illegal construction, sell the appartments or shops to people, and then go about finding a legal solution to the problem. The Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMMC) moved last year’s survey report against 100 commercial plazas built in violation of building by-laws to the record books of the new year.

The RMC authorities, sources said, unable to challenge the powerful builder mafia, offers legalisation by approving building plans against penalties.

RMC is expecting heavy revenue, as it has imposed a composition fee to regularise illegal structures,” said an officer of the corporation requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media. The just ended year proved to be the worst in the history of Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) as it could not stop illegal construction and encroachment that mushroomed in the garrison city during lockdown months.

The performance of the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Building Control Cell and the Enforcement Cell staff remained disappointing in 2020 as a plethora of illegal constructions in Rawalpindi during the past year have raised serious questions.

A survey of The Express Tribune disclosed that the RMC officials were doing nothing to stop unauthorised constructions in Rawalpindi with the alleged backing of politicians.

“RMC high-ups take advantage of their positions to carry out unscrupulous activities,” said an officer of the corporation requesting anonymity.

The officials responsible for preventing illegal constructions and ensuring constructions as per approved building plan mostly remain absent from their offices. They rather deal affairs outside the corporation. Owing to the corrupt practices, RMC has already come under the radar of the Anti-Corruption Establishment and many of its officials are facing inquiries.

Meanwhile, RMMC New Chief Officer Ali Abbas Bukhari has taken strict notice of bad governance and corrupt practices underway in the corporation.

Further, RMC Administration, who is Rawalpindi Commissioner too, Muhammad Mehmood has also expressed dissatisfaction over the affairs of the corporation while he paid a surprise visit to the office.

He had warned of strict action if no improvement was made in the situation in one month.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2021.