Zero tolerance: WCLA takes action against illegal buildings

LAHORE:

The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) issued notices on Tuesday to 285 illegally constructed buildings in the area. The buildings had been issued notices before to stop their construction as it compromised the heritage value of the Walled City. The buildings include all structures where their owners had not obtained the requisite approval needed for their plans or had not obtained the permission of authorities.

WCLA Director Kamran Lashari told The Express Tribune that construction of illegal buildings in the area would not be tolerated. He said the WCLA had commenced legal proceedings against individuals involved in this activity. Lashari said the area was a conspicuous part of the city’s heritage and culture. He said construction of such structures posed a danger to locals as they had been built without taking into account proper safety mechanisms.

Building Control Deputy Director Rafat Pasha said the land mafia was largely responsible for constructing a large number of illegal structures. He said land grabbers employed a myriad of tactics to obstruct the authority’s work. Pasha said the WCLA would remain vigilant against such elements. He said the authority had compiled a list of names following a directive by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Pasha said the WCLA would make the list public soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2015.