CDA to crack down on land mafia

[Salman]

* Orders to commercialise school building cancelled

* RCB seals 60 illegally constructed shops

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The Capital Development Authority (CDA), after launching an operation against illegal kiosks, has now issued notices to parties who have illegally occupied land in the capital.

A three-member committee has also been constituted in this regard. The committee would conduct a survey in the rural areas and strict measures would be taken against the land mafia.

According to sources, the CDA Enforcement Directorate has worked out a comprehensive strategy for ridding the plots from fake owners, who allegedly are backed by politically influential people.

Sources informed that 14 kiosks in front of PIMS had been demolished and owners of 25 kiosks have already been issued notices.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Sardar Muhammad Naseem Khan has annulled the notices for commercialising buildings owned by private schools.

The CDA chairman took this decision after meeting with a delegation headed by All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association Rawalpindi chapter President Abrar Ahmed Khan.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has launched an operation against illegally constructed shops and encroachment. 60 shops have been sealed and five truckloads of goods have been confiscated during the operation.

Under the supervision of Cantonment Board Magistrate Ashar Iqbal, The Chaklala Cantt Board Enforcement team launched a drive in various areas, including Tench Bata, Gawalmandi, Chungi 22, Last stop, Chaklala Scheme three, and sealed 60 buildings that was constructed without getting their maps approved.

The RCB also issued notices to 240 shop owners and directed them to demolish illegal extensions outside their properties.

It is pertinent to mention here that scores of shops and buildings have been sealed in this ongoing operation against encroachers in Rawalpindi and Cantonment areas. Officials of the Cantt Board said that this operation would continue until encroachments were completely demolished.