Stop Model Town commercial settlements, residents urge admin

[LRE]

Stop Model Town commercial settlements, residents urge admin

* MTRA says ‘corrupt MTS admin officials’ responsible for illegal commercial activity
* MTS vice president says ‘powerful people’ often pressure admin not to take action against violations



By Afnan Khan

LAHORE: Residents of Model Town Society (MTS) on Tuesday urged officials concerned to take action against people using residential plots for commercial activity.

The construction of private schools, colleges, offices and markets is attributed to the illegal mushrooming settlements in the society. According to the Cooperative Model Town Society Act 1962 no one is allowed to use residential plots for commercial activity. The residents believed that the forced settlement in the area was destroying the beauty and environment of the society.

“There is an illegal private school near my house. The presence of dozens of schoolchildren and holding of parties in the school have confined us to our house,” Ali Abbass, a C-Block resident said.

He said they had complained to the Model Town Society officials, but no action was taken against the violators so far.

Sibghatullah, a resident of G-Block, said, “Recently, the MTS and government officials constructed a road on the decade-old sewerage pipe, which has already caved in twice in a few days. It seems that the MTS officials have deliberately allowed commercial activity in the society. This illegal activity will soon turn the society into a garbage skip.”

Naseema Bokhari, another resident, said the society was designed to provide residence to a limited number of people, but the society had become overcrowded. She said ‘outsiders’ were consuming the society’s resources – electricity, water and gas.

Model Town Residents Association (MTRA) President Amer Azam said, “Corrupt MTS administration officials are responsible for the illegal commercial activity. The escalating number of schools, offices and markets are not only destroying the society’s environment, but also affecting the health of the residents. A number of society’s residents were killed when suicide bombers attacked an illegally set up Federal Investigation Agency office in the area.”

He said they had asked the MTS officials to take action against the construction of a market near the Model Town Link Road, but to no avail.

He said the residents had complained to MTS officials about commercial activity in residential plots, but no action had been taken so far.

Amer said a transport company had set up its office in a residential plot. He said the MTS administration could disconnect power and water supply to the violators.

MTS Vice President Nawab Tahir Ali Khan said the MTS administration was against illegal commercial activity in the society.

He said, “In the next meeting, I will suggest the cancellation of the membership of violators. Powerful people often pressure us not to take action against violators.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg13_5