Capital ramps up anti-encroachment drive

ISLAMABAD:

Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman and Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa has expressed anger over the increasing encroachments in the federal capital and the poor performance of CDA's anti-encroachment, enforcement, environment wing and building control departments.

Presiding over a meeting held in this regard, he ordered the conduct of a large-scale operation based on zero-tolerance against illegal constructions and encroachments immediately in Islamabad.

It was decided to impose section 144 and ban all types of construction from Sector F-6 to Lake Sector C-16 and in the National Park area. He asked the heads of the above sectors to strengthen the writ by running a vigorous campaign for the elimination of encroachments across the city. Enforcement, Environment and the concerned Assistant Commissioner jointly make the anti-encroachment operation successful, the CDA chief directed.

Randhawa said that after the end of the encroachments, the process of strict monitoring should also be continued, directing strong action against the encroachments around the drains flowing into Rawal Dam, so that the water of Rawal Dam could be protected from pollution.

During the meeting, it was also decided to implement section 144 to stop all construction activities in Zone 3.

The CDA chairman made it clear that FIRs would be lodged in the concerned police stations against those illegal occupants who repeatedly encroached upon the areas vacated by the authorities. He directed that the areas vacated should be fenced to prevent reoccupation.