Govt all set to regularise irregular societies

Housing schemes without parks, graveyards and other discrepancies will be regularised

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has finalised preparations for the regularisation of irregular and lop-sided housing societies falling in the jurisdiction of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Sources said that housing societies without parks, graveyards and having other discrepancies will be regularised.

On the other hand, the CDA has also issued directives to its officials through a circular for cooperation with the commission formed by the interior ministry.

The interior ministry had formed the commission in light of the decision of the federal cabinet for the regularisation of irregular and illegal housing schemes in CDA Zone-II, Zone-IV and Zone-V.

The federal commission on review of the master plan of Islamabad will also have members of the CDA director-general planning, who will prepare a comprehensive plan regarding errant housing societies.

According to the sources, the CDA will provide the required funds to the commission and advisory assistance. The commission will also be empowered to recommend action and imposition of fines on illegal and irregular housing societies before their regularisation.

The sources said that the commission would act in an advisory body and will advise the civic agency regarding the regularisation of illegal housing societies within the framework of ToRs attached and the CDA Ordinance 1960.

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As an advisory body, the commission will have the power to propose changes to the rules regarding housing societies while it can also summon any official for records or getting required information.

According to the sources, the housing schemes will submit their applications to the commission for regularisation, which will propose fines after listening to the CDA and each applicant before issuing the regularisation order.

Once the no-objection certificate was issued, these illegal and irregular housing schemes will fall within the purview of the CDA.

All housing schemes without a graveyard, a public park and a width of the road less than the planning standard have been declared eligible for regularisation.

In this regard, CDA spokesperson Syed Raza said that they were revising the master plan of Islamabad.

He urged the people not to buy plots in housing societies that have not been approved by CDA.

He said that the authority has provided a list of approved housing schemes on its website.

The official parried the question when asked about the number of illegal housing projects in Islamabad.

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