Residents asked to vacate dilapidated buildings

Official says cases would be registered against tenants for ignoring red notices

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has decided to take action against the owners, tenants and occupants of 200 old and dilapidated buildings after they failed to comply with the red notices issued to them to vacate them prior to the start of the monsoon season.

Civic agencies including the RMC had issued final and red notices to building owners, tenants and occupants multiple times, however, they did not budge. The RMC said that it has been decided to register criminal cases against the owners, tenants and occupiers for not vacating the dilapidated buildings.

The RMC has announced to arrest the owners, tenants and occupants in case of the collapse of a building during monsoon rains and loss of life and property. It said that criminal cases will be registered against them in case of loss of life.

An order issued by the RMC chief officer said that the dilapidated buildings should be vacated immediately to avoid any loss of life and property as excessive monsoon rains were expected this year.

The RMC has directed all occupants of dilapidated buildings to shift to safe places. The order has also called for the removal of encroachments along with these buildings. The RMC said that the lives of the people living in the dilapidated buildings were precious. Therefore, all those living in them have been instructed to vacate the buildings and repair them as they were at risk of collapse during the rains.

A survey of dilapidated buildings has also been started and cases would be registered at relevant police stations against the occupants for not vacating the buildings. It has been decided to demolish the precarious buildings immediately and the cost of demolition will be received from the occupants.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2022.