Punjab

Top body approves over Rs9b budget for RDA, WASA

Governing body agrees to modify Katchehry Chowk remodeling project

Our Correspondent October 15, 2022

While the budgetary measures show that the government is trying to offset the adverse effect of inflation on the poor, they do not indicate any significant remedy for the present financial malaise. Photo: file

RAWALPINDI:

The governing body meeting of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) approved over Rs9.69 billion budget for the RDA and the Water and Sanitation (WASA) for the financial year 2022-2023.

A total of Rs3.062 billion surplus budget was approved for the RDA and Rs6.635 billion for the WASA. The approval was given at the 59th meeting of the governing body of the civic agency chaired by RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza. Director General RDA Muhammad Syaf Anwar Jappa gave a detailed briefing on the agenda items to the governing body.

During the meeting, the RDA governing body also approved revision in the scope of the Katchehry Chowk remodeling project, envisaging more flyovers and underpasses.

The governing body also approved a proposal regarding the formulation of a “peri-urban” structure plan under the Land Use Rules 2021 for district headquarters and all tehsils of Rawalpindi. The body has given 15 days time to the MMP consultant to submit a proposal regarding the plan.

The governing body also approved the construction of a multi-storey commercial building on 18-marla land in Sherpao Colony near Committee Chowk Rawalpindi. The agenda also approved the recovery of charges for the cancellation of the allotment of plots and strips. Earlier, the Rawalpindi district administration sent a proposal to the Punjab government, seeking a new master plan for the district to cope with the mushroom growth of illegal housing societies. Around 400 illegal housing societies are currently operating across the Rawalpindi district on agricultural as well as commercial land.

These housing societies have been constructed in violation of building bylaws and without prior approval from the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA). The RDA resorts to only issuing notices to these illegal schemes, warning citizens against investing in such societies.

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.

A senior officer of the district administration told The Express Tribune that illegal housing societies within the RDA limits and tehsil municipal corporations have increased to such an extent that a coherent strategy was needed to take action against them.

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