Rawalpindi: RDA directed to take action against phoney housing societies

[Naveed Yaseen]

Saeed Ahmed
Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has been directed to take immediate action against the owners of the phoney housing societies in Rawalpindi city and its adjacent areas.

PML-N leader Sardar Nasim, who is also in-charge of CM Task Force on Monitoring and Development Cell, issued these directives on the order of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif.

Talking to ‘The News’ here Tuesday, Sardar Nasim said that he has directed the RDA Director General Makeen Shahbaz for taking immediate action against the bogus and fake housing societies, which are fleecing the innocent people since long.

He said that as many as 67 housing societies in different parts of Rawalpindi are fake and phoney. “I have directed the RDA DG to take action against the concerned owners and submit its report within fortnight before me. The same report will be presented to the chief minister,” he said.

When contacted, RDA director general Makeen Shahbaz confirming the report said that RDA had also issued notices to the owners of the fake societies time and again this year and even in the past. Now no notices would be served to any of the society owner rather legal action would be taken directly including seizing of their offices and business.

On the other hand, the owners of as many as five societies on condition of anonymity, alleged that they approach the concerned directorate of RDA for fulfilling requirements and getting NOCs, however, “the concerned staff sitting over there demand huge gratification.” They alleged that the RDA authorities themselves create hurdles in our way to obtain NOCs, otherwise we ourselves want to complete all legal formalities.

They demanded the chief minister to direct RDA officials not to involve themselves in irregularities while issuing NOCs and licences.

When contacted again, the RDA director general rebutted all allegations levelled against the RDA officials and its staff. The RDA staff demand fees of the NOC and nothing else. Why the owners did not approach any of the high official to lodge their complaints if they had any against staff members even the director, Makeen Shahbaz asked. All these are excuses just to avoid any action by the concerned department, the DG said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=191575