346 buildings found dangerous

Notices issued to owners, WCLA informs LHC in Basant case

LAHORE:

The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has declared 346 buildings in its area dangerous after a survey ahead of Basant.

The authority submitted the report before the Lahore High Court (LHC) in response to petitions challenging the permission for the kite-flying festival after a survey of dangerous and dilapidated buildings.

According to the WCLA, of the 346 buildings in the Walled City declared dangerous, 183 have been termed irreparable and 163 repairable. The report stated that 92 buildings in an extremely dangerous condition had been evacuated.

However, 254 buildings declared unsafe remain occupied.

Among the occupied buildings, 103 have been declared irreparable and 151 repairable.

Of the evacuated buildings, 80 have been declared bound for demolition, while 12 are considered repairable. The WCLA stated that rooftops of the dangerous buildings were unsafe for Basant activities.

The authority has initiated measures to impose a ban on the use of unsafe rooftops during Basant.

Warning notices and awareness banners are being displayed across the Walled City to alert residents.

To prevent any untoward incident during the festival, safety measures have been put in place.

The district administration has been requested to seal dangerous rooftops and hazardous portions of buildings. The report also recommends the deployment of police during Basant to maintain safety and order. LHC Justice Awais Khalid heard petitions filed by the Judicial Activism Panel and others.

The Lahore deputy commissioner (DC), director general of public relations (DGPR) and several other officers appeared before the court.

The LHC sought a detailed report on the measures taken to make the Basant celebration safe.

The DGPR informed the court that an awareness campaign had been ongoing for the past three days to educate citizens on safety aspects of the event. The court directed the DGPR to coordinate closely with the DC on the matter.

The court asked the DC about meetings held with the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO). The official said the company had committed to making all necessary arrangements to ensure safety on the occasion.

On the court's inquiry, a senior superintendent of police stated that a control room had been established at the DC Office, where representatives of all relevant departments would remain present to monitor the situation.

A counsel for the WCLA informed the court that notices had been issued to owners of dilapidated buildings in the area.

A petitioner's counsel contended that the government had imposed restrictions on printing images of any personality on kites and questioned other regulatory measures.

The court directed the petitioner's lawyer to file a separate petition on the specific issue.