CDA notifies illegal housing societies

Police, CDA to establish four pickets to protect green belts

ISLAMABAD:

The development body of the federal capital has warned people against investing in dubious housing schemes, lest they might lose their life savings in an unauthorised project.

Besides advising people against investing in illegal housing schemes, Capital Development Authority (CDA) has asked utility services not to provide connections at these unauthorised projects.

CDA in its communications has asked Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) and Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Limited (PTCL) to stop issuing utility connections to these unauthorised societies and their residents.

A public notice issued by CDA Planning Wing Regional Planning Director advised people not to sign any sale or purchase agreement in these societies including Ghauri Town (all phases), Rehman Residencia, Akber Enclave, Ghouri Greens (Phase IX) and JS Block situated in Zone IV on Islamabad Highway and Lehtrar Road as they were working without approval of CDA.

Read CDA to plant saplings on greenbelts

The notice warned management, sponsors of these unauthorized societies to refrain from transfer and marketing of plots and stop construction activity in these illegal housing schemes immediately. In case of failure strict punitive action would be taken against the sponsors of the illegal scheme under CDA ordinance 1960 and ICT Zoning Regulation 1992.

“All buildings in the illegal schemes were being constructed without obtaining approval or NOC of building plan from CDA, which is alarming and a potential threat to life and property of the residents due to non adherence of Islamabad Building Regulations 2005,” the notice said.

CDA to establish pickets

The development authority in collaboration with Islamabad police will establish four pickets in forest reserves of the federal capital to purge encroachments.

Initially, two pickets were being set up in Malpur area, followed by another two in Chontra to protect the green cover from new construction, CDA Chairman Aamer Ali Ahmed told APP on Sunday.

He said a container for the establishment of check-post was shifted to Malpur village. Equipment for the other areas would be moved soon he informed. “Pickets will be sustainable cochlea post for round the clock duty,” he remarked.

The move, he said, would not only curb the practice of illegal occupation of state land, but also reduce deforestation.

Ahmed said the plan came under discussion during a high-level meeting the other day to intensify action against the encroachment in the federal capital.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2021.