Operation to start despite protests

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

LAHORE - All is set to launch a stern operation against illegal housing schemes to check the mafia involved in the business over the last many decades. Around 103 illegal housing schemes will come under fire in this proposed operation, which will make its way when the drive against illegal high-rise plazas is going on at full throttle amid resistance in different parts of the City.
As per information, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) will demolish the said 103 illegal schemes while it has approved more than 200 housing schemes including the two new recently launched at Raiwind and Ferozepur roads. The LDA made this announcement on Monday.
The LDA schemes falling in Gulberg I, II and III, Garden Town, Muslim Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Samanabad, Sabzazar, Johar Town, Gujjar Pura, Taj Pura, Mohlanwal, Gulshan Ravi and other localities are also under strict scrutiny. The LDA town municipal squad has got published the list of all illegal housing societies in newspapers, and will fine the societies violating Private Housing Schemes Regulation Act 2005. The Authority has also warned the people of entering into any deal of plots in these schemes.
Earlier, the crackdown was started by demolishing the site office of Doctors Society near Thokar Niaz Beg.
The issue of illegal housing schemes came to the limelight when Manshaur Rehman, resident of Khanewal, complained that the Punjab government had notified the Punjab Private Site Development (Regulations) Rules 2005 on January 25, 2005, but its provisions were not being implemented in letter and spirit.
The CJP, after the report from the Chief Secretary Punjab on the issue, directed that it be released to the Press for publication so that general public making investment in such societies might know about their affairs.
The Punjab Private Site Development Schemes (Regulations) Rules, 2005 were notified on 25-01-2005, vide Local Government & Community Development Department’s Notification No SOR(LG)38-2/2004. A procedure has been laid down in these rules for the approval of establishment of private housing schemes. Under Rule 3, the developer of a housing scheme is required to submit an application, along with requisite documents, to the concerned Development Authority. The rules say about topographic/site survey of the area, copy of NIC of the developer; statement of the works that shall be executed at the cost of the developer; and statement of the period during which the area shall be developed. Rule 4 says that all the requirements/documents as per rule 3 (2) are complete; width of access road is not less than 30 feet; scheme is safe from the danger of flooding; minimum area of scheme is not less than 160 kanal; and land is not required or has been notified by the government for any other purpose. Upon fulfillment of the above criteria, public objections are required to be invited by the Development Authority/Tehsil Municipal Administration, at the cost of the developer. Planning standards for the Scheme to be developed are governed by Rule 6 of the rules, whereby, for the purpose of roads and residential use, the National Reference Manual on Planning and Infrastructure Standards is to be kept in view.