SHC seeks names of officers who ‘allowed illegal constructions’

Issues notices against developing housing society at poultry farm land

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered action against Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director general and officials responsible for allowing construction of illegal portions.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, heard the petition against construction of portions in Nazimabad No5 Bara Maidaan area.

The petitioner's advocate took stance that the SBCA is not ready to proceed despite the court order.

Homes constructed over 120 and 80 square yards were demolished to construct portions of 60 and 40 square yards in ground plus two buildings. Resultantly, instead on one or two families, there are now six families living in the same space putting pressure on the water, sewerage, electricity and gas connentions.

The petitioner said that during the time the illelgal construction was going on, SBCA kept quite - now these portions were being given to tenants.

The petition called for demolishing the illegal portions.

Justice Rizvi inquired about the inquiry report on the portions. Regarding, the plea for demolition. Justice Rizvi remarked that it could not be done abruptly, "there are people living in these buildings, you cannot do anything."

He asked SBCA to name the officers responsibile for allowing illegal construction. The court ordered the SBCA DG to take action against the illegal portions and submit an inquiry against the responsible officers and submit a report within 30 days.

Housing society on industrial land

An SHC bench has sought a response from the Sindh Government, the Board of Revenue on the petition against building a housing society by land mafia on the land reserved for poultry farm in Ibrahim Hydari Industrial Area.

The two-member bench headed by Justice Rizvi heard the petition against the construction of a housing scheme by the land mafia by occupying the poultry farm land in Ibrahim Hyderi Industrial Area. The petitioner's counsel submitted that the land mafia had occupied the land allocated for poultry farm.

The court remarked that settlements are being built under the sea as well. People are selling properties along the coastline with assurance of reclaiming the land.

Justice Rizvi remarked that the builders would move the population up to 20 kilometers into the sea. He further remarked: "tell us, how did you get this industrial plot? Are the government departments sleeping? How did you get the rate of Rs50,000 per acre? Let the government's answer come, the court will issue a suitable decision.

The court sought a response from the Sindh government, Board of Revenue.

The same bench summoned the Deputy Secretary of the Chief Minister Secretariat and ordered the KDA officials to submit a comprehensive report on the case related to the land dispute in Gulistan Johar Block 3.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2022.