Pindi sees rampant growth of illegal housing societies

RDA only issues notices but does not take legal action against illegal schemes

RAWALPINDI:

Over 260 private illegal housing societies are operating in different areas which fall under the jurisdiction of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).

These illegal housing societies have popped up in defiance of the RDA Act. The RDA resorts to only issuing notices to these illegal schemes and warning citizens against investing in such illegal schemes.

These illegal housing societies are functioning in Tehsil Rawalpindi, Tehsil Murree, Tehsil Gujar Khan, Tehsil Taxila, and Tehsil Kotli Satian.

Neither the planning permission and layout plans of these societies have been approved by the RDA nor these societies have surrendered lands required for roads, streets, cemeteries, playgrounds and other basic civic services.

A total of 386 private housing societies are functioning in the RDA jurisdiction and of them, 66 are approved, 59 are being scrutinised and 261 are completely illegal.

Advertising campaigns for these illegal housing societies have also been banned and site offices and entrance gates have been demolished several times. However, the influential owners of these illegal housing societies not only reconstruct site offices and entry and exit gates but also continue their illegal business by advertising their illegal projects in various ways, luring people to invest. A large number of citizens have shifted to these illegal housing societies while the construction of as many illegal societies is going on unabated.

As most powerful and influential people operate and own these illegal housing societies, no one dares to stop thei illegal business.

The RDA has seen eight director-generals in the last over three years before Saif Anwar Jappa assumed the charge of the director-general almost a month ago and if the head of the department takes action against these societies, he falls victim to the shuffling.

RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza said that the civic agency wanted systematic action against the 261 illegal housing societies for which the RDA needed machinery, equipment and well-trained human resource.

He said that the RDA was fully committed to taking comprehensive action against illegal housing societies. “At present, the implementation of by-laws is being ensured for housing societies which are under scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the RDA issued notices to 14 illegal housing schemes.

A spokesperson for the RDA said that the authority has issued notices to illegal housing schemes namely Tab City Housing Scheme, Turkish Smart City Housing Scheme, Al-Rahmat Housing Scheme, Nishan-e-Mustafa Housing Scheme, Ample Living Housing Scheme and The Countryside Farms Housing Scheme at Mouza Baga Sheikhan Chak Beli Khan Road, Pine Green Housing Scheme, New Murree Township Housing Scheme, Hope City Housing Scheme, Bunyad Housing Scheme, Tokyo Smart City Housing Scheme and Green Hills Enclave at Mouza Lakot Expressway Murree, Agro Park Housing Scheme at Ratta Gujran, Rawat Rawalpindi and Forest Town at Mouza Chhani Sher Alam GT Road Rawalpindi.

He said that the RDA has also registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against three housing schemes, Turkish Smart City, Ample Living and The Countryside Housing Scheme.

He said that the owners and sponsors of these illegal housing schemes were misleading the public through advertisements.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2022.