Dangerous structures under scanner

Committee orders surveys, eviction notices for hundreds of unsafe buildings in all districts

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Divisional Coordination Committee (DCC) in a special meeting has ordered immediate and daily surveys of all rain-damaged and dilapidated buildings in the six districts of the Rawalpindi division, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Murree. The committee instructed the issuance of new red warning notices to owners and tenants, and directed that any non-compliance should result in immediate demolition.

According to sources, Commissioner Aamir Khattak chaired the meeting, which was attended by all deputy commissioners, municipal corporation chief officers and representatives of relevant departments.

The DCC stressed that survey teams must go into streets and neighbourhoods instead of conducting office-based assessments.

Strict enforcement of bans on swimming, boating, or bathing in dams, mini-dams, and deep-water areas during the monsoon season was also ordered.

Police and rescue teams are to be deployed immediately at these locations.

Commissioner Khattak also ordered a major cleanup operation to remove all encroachments, cattle sheds, and makeshift shelters along the 15 seasonal streams, including Nullah Leh and the River Soan.

The deputy commissioners were directed to monitor these areas closely, while WASA and other agencies were ordered to deploy all machinery in low-lying areas to ensure drainage.

The meeting expressed strong displeasure over the practice of merely issuing formal notices for dangerous buildings before the monsoon, accusing agencies of trying to avoid accountability.

Around 200 deteriorating double- and triple-storey buildings were identified, including school buildings in rural areas. Each year, two or three such buildings partially collapse during monsoon.

The commissioner ordered the chief officer of the municipal corporation to evacuate and demolish these buildings immediately. He also demanded updated lists and status reports on dilapidated structures, particularly in the old inner-city neighbourhoods, such as Mohalla Qutubuddin, Jamia Masjid Road, Kalan Bazaar, Purana Qila, Chitian Hattian, Lal Haveli surroundings, Kartarpura, Mughal Sarai, Raja Bazaar, Dingi Khoi, Bagh Sardaran, Ghazni Road, Moti Bazaar, Trunk Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Mohalla Niariyan, Banni, and Jhungi Mohalla, where buildings dating back 100 to 130 years are still occupied.

Many of these buildings belong to the municipal corporation or the Evacuee Trust Property Board, with most tenants paying very low rents.