Two under-construction markets demolished

RDA takes action against commercial establishments on Chak Beli Khan Road

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Friday demolished two illegal under-construction commercial markets on Chak Beli Khan Road.

RDA staff, including building inspectors, with the assistance of the Rawalpindi police carried out the operation against two unauthorised under-construction commercial markets, said the RDA spokesperson.

The owners of these properties were constructing illegal commercial buildings without approval and a no-objection certificate (NOC), in violation of the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976 and the RDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2007, the spokesperson added.

Complying with the orders of RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza and RDA Director General Chaudhry Maqbool Ahmed, the civic agency’s Land Use and Building Control (LU&BC) wing have been actively conducting operations against illegal and unauthorised commercial and residential construction activities, including plazas, shops and schools. Action is also underway against the illegal use of land and encroachments within the controlled area of the RDA.

The RDA spokesman said their top officials had directed the building control wing to take strict action against illegal and unauthorised constructions and commercial activities without any fear and favour.

An operation against the land grabbers is under way in the twin cities. A day ago, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) cleared the right of way area from Taramri Chowk to Panj Girain on Lehtrar Road. An official said the authority’s enforcement department conducted an anti-encroachment drive in which the encroachments on the right of way from Taramri Chowk to Panj Girain were cleared. He said heavy machinery of the Machinery Pool Organisation was used to raze illegal constructions on the road.

The official informed that some 35 shades of shops, eight kiosks and building material sites each, three bread ovens, five cattle pens, and a container were destroyed during the operation while the seized material was shifted to the CDA office.