Development authority seals 10 commercial buildings

RDA says properties were constructed without NOCs

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Monday sealed 10 more commercial buildings at High Court Road and Gulraiz Housing Scheme Commercial Area.

Waking up from slumber after structures were developed from the ground up in months and came into the use of the people, the authority declared the buildings illegal and sealed the premises.

The Land Use and Building Control (LU&BC) Wing Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA)’s staff conducted an operation against 10 allegedly illegal and unauthorised commercial buildings at High Court Road and Gulraiz Housing Scheme’s Commercial Area as part of operations against building by-laws violations, illegal construction, and land mafia in the city.

According to an RDA statement, Building Control Wing has been actively conducting operations against unauthorised commercial and residential construction activities and encroachment within the jurisdiction of RDA.

LU&BC staff, including Building Control Deputy Director Atif Mehmood Chaudhry, Building Inspectors and others carried out the operation.

The owners of these properties constructed illegal commercial buildings without approval and No Objection Certificates (NOCs), in violation of the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976 and RDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2020.

The RDA spokesman said people should show moral responsibility and remove every type of encroachment as much as they can so that they could avoid any further loss.

He said the owners of the properties have carried out development work in the different areas illegally, without the approval of a layout plan (LoP) from the authority.

The general public has been advised in their own interest that they should not make any investment in the illegal housing schemes and for high rise buildings as the same are not approved and allowed by the authority.

A list of authorised and unauthorised housing schemes is available on RDA’s website

CDA removes encroachment

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) said on Monday that its Enforcement Department conducted an operation against illegal construction and encroachment at Panjgraan, Lehtrar Road, Khanna Pul, Tramari, and Tarlai. The CDA officials used earth moving equipment to demolish three homes, nine rooms, four washrooms, four boundary walls, buffalo shelters, and some other constructions in Panjgraan. Construction material was seized from the spot.

On the other hand, operations were also conducted at Lehtrar road, Khanna pul, Tramari, and Tarlai upon the complaints of the citizens. Poultry stalls, vegetable stalls, pushcarts, roadside setups, tea stalls, and other encroachment from the roadsides were removed. Material captured from the spot was impounded in the store of CDA.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2021.