Unplanned expansion: Illegal housing societies a security threat

Over 100 housing societies operating in capital without legal cover

ISLAMABAD:

The Interior Ministry is likely to take up with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) the issue of uncontrolled, haphazard and illegal expansion of the city beyond its defined limits, which is a grave security threat.

The civic agency has recently identified over a dozen illegal private housing schemes, which are actually located outside the city but their advertisers claim otherwise.

A recent CDA report, available with The Express Tribune, said the number of illegal housing societies and agro-farming schemes within the city’s territorial limits has touched 109.

Neither does CDA have a record of these settlements nor have their managements registered with the authority.

As many as 64 illegal schemes are currently operating in Zone-IV of the capital which includes Lehtrar Road, Simly Dam Road, Kuri Road, Park Road, Nilore, Bhara Kahu and areas along Islamabad Expressway.

Until 2010, private housing colonies were not allowed in Zone-IV, but during the last government’s tenure, the CDA ordinance was amended and private developers were allowed to construct residential colonies there to reportedly benefit a particular real estate developer.

Similarly, 16 illegal societies operate in Zone-II and Zone-III and 29 in Zone-V of the city.

Under the CDA laws, all construction activities are banned in Zone-III — a national park area — but six illegal schemes still operate in this zone.

“To our knowledge, in a majority of cases the CDA does not have record and details of owners of these illegal settlements, let alone data on people residing there,” said a senior official of the ministry, who added the issue has been discussed in meetings held to review progress on the National Action Plan.

He explained that the issue of illegal housing colonies in suburban Islamabad would be taken up with CDA in the coming days.

When contacted, CDA Member Planning and Design Waseem Khan dispelled the impression that the illegal settlements pose any security threats.

“I don’t think so. The phenomenon of security threat is not solely related to illegal settlements. The city could also face security threats from legal settlements,” he said.

He said after a survey of the illegal schemes, the planning wing had asked the CDA’s enforcement wing to take appropriate action.

On May 19, 2004, the federal cabinet decided that in the future, construction in violation of zoning laws should not be allowed in zones II, III, and IV.

It was also decided that Wapda, SNGPL and PTCL shall not provide connections in the zones unless an applicant shows mandatory approval from CDA. In contrast to the decision, almost every utility service is available at these illegal settlements.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2015.