CDA cancels allotment of 18 houses

[Salman]

Islamabad

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has chosen posh residential sectors of the metropolis for cancellation of allotment of houses which have been under commercial use.

According to latest data received from the CDA, the civic body has so far cancelled the allotment of 18 houses, which were under non-conforming use in different residential sectors of Islamabad.

“We have cancelled allotment of 18 houses under commercial use, while cases of another 600 houses was under process,” a CDA official said.

The authority has also requested the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) for immediate disconnection of power supply of these houses which are located in sectors F-6, F-7, F-10 and E-7.

These houses were used for commercial purposes as restaurants, offices, showrooms instead of residential purpose and CDA initially served the owners of these houses with notices and after proceedings in the court of CDA deputy commissioner the allotments of these houses were cancelled.

As per CDA rules, the authority imposes Rs0.5 million penalty on a house under non-conforming and if the owner fails to pay the fine and does not stop illegal use of the building, the allotment is cancelled.

According to CDA’s restoration policy, the allotment of a residential plot or house is restored only after its non-conforming use is stopped.

In order to discourage commercial activities in residential areas, the CDA has also written a letter to Iesco for disconnection of power supply which would help curb non-conforming use in residential sectors.

CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal has directed the concerned formations to serve notices to owners of the houses in non-conforming use without any discrimination and cancel the allotment after thorough proceedings in the court. He said that non-conforming use is not only a severe violation of CDA by-laws but commercial activities in residential sectors also cause inconvenience to the residents of that sector. He requested the owners to use their properties in accordance with the terms and conditions and relevant bylaws.