Non-conforming use: CDA ordered to take action against violators
IHC wants stay orders by business owners vacated.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID
ISLAMABAD:
A judge, on Friday, told off the counsel for the capital ‘s civic agency for failing to stop commercial activities in residential areas.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui expressed dissatisfaction over a report submitted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
“In every sector, commercial activities have mushroomed in residential areas but the authority has failed to stop them,” observed Justice Siddiqui.
CDA’s counsel submitted a report in the court, according to which 2,057 houses were being used for commercial purposes in residential areas.
According to the report, 889 houses have been turned into commercial outlets in the F series sectors, including 225 houses in F-7 alone. In the G series sectors, 461 houses are being used for commercial purposes with 135 houses in Sector G-6 alone. Some 375 housing units in the I series sectors are also being used in violation of zoning laws, while 53 houses are in non-conforming use in E-7, the report said.
When the judge asked what action had been taken against violators, the CDA counsel claimed that some of the owners had obtained stay orders and the authority could not take action against them.
The court asked the CDA to vacate all the stay orders and take stern action against violators and submit a detailed report on the next date of hearing on March 5.
Sources in the CDA said that the authority was reluctant to take action against influential owners who run their businesses with impunity.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2014.
A judge, on Friday, told off the counsel for the capital ‘s civic agency for failing to stop commercial activities in residential areas.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui expressed dissatisfaction over a report submitted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
“In every sector, commercial activities have mushroomed in residential areas but the authority has failed to stop them,” observed Justice Siddiqui.
CDA’s counsel submitted a report in the court, according to which 2,057 houses were being used for commercial purposes in residential areas.
According to the report, 889 houses have been turned into commercial outlets in the F series sectors, including 225 houses in F-7 alone. In the G series sectors, 461 houses are being used for commercial purposes with 135 houses in Sector G-6 alone. Some 375 housing units in the I series sectors are also being used in violation of zoning laws, while 53 houses are in non-conforming use in E-7, the report said.
When the judge asked what action had been taken against violators, the CDA counsel claimed that some of the owners had obtained stay orders and the authority could not take action against them.
The court asked the CDA to vacate all the stay orders and take stern action against violators and submit a detailed report on the next date of hearing on March 5.
Sources in the CDA said that the authority was reluctant to take action against influential owners who run their businesses with impunity.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2014.