Action against illegal housing schemes on the cards

[Salman]

Action against illegal housing schemes on the cards


LAHORE – The City District Government and Lahore Development Authority are going to take legal action against about 99 illegal private housing schemes. LDA authorities issued notices to the developers of such housing schemes, sources informed TheNation on Wednesday.

“The legal action will be initiated against such schemes, which will be challaned by the magistrates under section 33 and 38 of LDA Act 1975 and CDGL Bylaws under which the magistrates could penalise the developers or owners of any illegally developed housing colony or scheme with one month imprisonment and at least Rs 15,000 fine every month till the developers fulfil all the legal requirements.” they added.

The sources said LDA and CDG had also warned the owners or developers of these illegal housing schemes to stop sale of plots, execution of development works and other issues relating to the sale of plots in these schemes.

They said that main objective to declare such housing colonies/schemes was to beware and inform the general public, prospective buyers and the investors advising in their own interest, to refrain from purchasing plots in these schemes and to verify the legal status of these schemes from LDA before making any investment or transaction.

In fact, such 99 illegal housing schemes neither apply for getting any legal status nor submitted any scheme plan of their colonies under which they are bound to prove their ownership/title by enclosing transfer letter of the land acquired by the owners on their name, issued by Revenue Department, they said adding that the scheme plan meant measurement of land, purchased for development of any housing scheme, details of facilities provided by the applicants/owners to the authorities concerned for getting legal status for their housing colonies under concerned laws including parks, schools, health centers, community centers, markets and other facilities.

City District Government Lahore and Lahore Development Authority earlier has declared as many as 102 private housing schemes including 52 situated in the LDA controlled areas (which are now 49 as developers of 3 housing colonies submitted their scheme plans with LDA for getting approval) and 50 situated in the precincts of different city towns/TMA were illegal.