CDA adopts new method to cope with encroachments

[Salman]

CDA adopts new method to cope with encroachments

Islamabad

After failing to control growth of encroachments in the federal capital, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has adopted a new method to cope with the illegal activity.

The encroachment wing of the civic body following an operation along the Islamabad Expressway, dug out trenches to avert return of encroachers.

The operation near Khanna Bridge was led by the deputy director general. The personnel of enforcement wing removed stalls of fruits and vegetable and other items. They were also assisted by the Islamabad Traffic Police during the operation.

The residents of Islamabad, however, feels that the authority should also pay attention to tackling with issue of non-conforming use of residential buildings in all the sectors. As the influential are also involved in illegal use of residential buildings by doing business of restaurants, guest houses, private offices and educational institutions, so far no full-fledged operation has been launched against them.

Same is the situation with handling of encroachments in main shopping areas like Aabpara Market, G-9 Markaz, Super Market and Jinnah Super. The phenomenon of encroachment has increased with the start of winter season as the shopkeepers along with extending their shops to verandas, have also rented out open spaces.

Meanwhile, the enforcement team demolished illegally constructed sheds on CDA land in front of 10 plazas and handed over retrieved land to Environment Wing.

The enforcement personnel also disconnected another illegally constructed link road connecting Sector G-12 with Kashmir Highway. Similarly, during another operation, enforcement team also demolished an illegally established weighting machine and poles and confiscated encroached material.

On the directions of the CDA chairman, deputy director general enforcement also visited different housing societies and directed the administrations of housing societies not to carry out any development work until they fulfil the codal formalities of Planning Wing of the Authority. The deputy director general enforcement also visited different sectors and directed the enforcement staff to remove all encroachments from the green belts of these sectors.