Body formed to identify illegal structures in Saidpur

[Salman]

Body formed to identify illegal structures in Saidpur

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has formed a scrutiny committee to point out all illegal structures in Saidpur Village for their onward removal as part of a drive to revive the area’s original rustic look.

Environment Member Mian Waheeduddin will head the committee.

Prime Minister’s Task Force on Islamabad Chairman Faisal Sakhi Butt and CDA Chairman Engineer Farkhand Iqbal made the decision during their visit to the village on Wednesday.

PM Task Force member Asad Mumtaz Khan, political and social activist Chaudhry Jahangir and senior officers of the CDA also accompanied them on the visit.

It was decided that the committee would carry out thorough scrutiny of all residents of the village as per the final award list.

They also decided that a revised PC-I for the rehabilitation of Saidpur Village would be prepared with the revised financial plan to execute the remaining work of the tourist spot.

Under the plan, the water bodies in the area would be preserved to ensure supply of water to domestic users, which would also add to the beauty of the area.

After the allotment of spaces, some people had raised illegal structures in the village, marring the original beauty of the area.

The CDA would carry out fresh demarcation of houses in collaboration with the residents to revive its tourist attraction as envisaged in the original rehabilitation plan.

During the visit, both the chairmen and locals of the village deliberated on the future development plan of the tourist village by resolving the issues hampering the development process.

Faisal Butt asked the CDA to carry out afresh numbering of all the original houses, with directives to complete the process before May 10, which would be followed by an operation to demolish all illegal structures constructed in the village.

Development works in the village, including upgradation of infrastructure and proper fencing, should be initiated immediately to develop the Saidpur Village to the spirit of the original plan, he said.

He said that all encroachments, especially on the passage and entry points, must be removed immediately and proper parking space available in the village should be utilised, banning entry of vehicles inside the tourist and restaurant areas.

Faisal Butt also asked the CDA to provide golf-cart facility at the entrance of the village to facilitate visitors and add tourist attraction to the village.

He said that cleanliness standards must be maintained in the village to attract visitors, and the natural nullah flowing through the village should be cleansed of all debris and solid waste.

He said that proper maintenance of nullah would revive its natural beauty and attraction, alluring the people to the area.

Farkhand Iqbal said the CDA would immediately start the development work in Saidpur Village and locals would be taken onboard for resolving outstanding issues.

He directed the formations concerned to remove encroachments at the earliest, especially those in front of hotels and restaurants.