LDA fails to execute demolition plan

[LahoreEstate]

LAHORE - A racket of builders and big bosses of LDA and Board of Revenue enjoying strong links in political parties has hampered the re-constitution of judicial commission and building control authority causing phenomenal rise to mushroom growth of high-rise buildings in residential as well as commercial areas with impunity.
Well-placed sources revealed that the racket patronised by heavyweight political parties were behind the move to discourage the re-constitution of commission and formation of building control authority (BCA).
Sources said the racket wanted BCA on the backburner fearing that with the formation of the proposed authority, the department within LDA and Towns’ wings dealing with building construction in the city would be made defunct.
Supreme Court which constituted 3-member SC high-level commission comprising Justice ® Riaz Kayani, architect Kamal Khan and UET VC’s nominee Tahir Ahmad in 2006 pointed out construction of more than 1,100 high rising buildings construction in sheer violation of buildings by-laws. The fresh survey was about to be conducted but commission was dissolved after the appointment of Justice Riza Kayani as secretary law and resigning of other two members of the commission. A number of days have gone but the commission could not be constituted. The long impasse in the way of re-constitution of judicial commission and BCA has put a question mark on the credibility of the government.
Moreover, Punjab government has planned to constitute BCA in the City to regulate construction of commercial and residential buildings keeping in view the existing building by-laws. The move to form BCA followed remarks passed by a full bench of the Supreme Court. However, no progress is in sight till date. Even the modalities and parameters are yet to be discussed to form the BCA in the city.
Sources said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had issued clear instructions for immediate suspension of the officers of the LDA and Board of Revenue who failed to demolish plazas and high-rise buildings constructed in violation of the relevant laws.

The chief minister also constituted a three-member committee, comprising Kh Ahmad Hasaan, Kh Imran Raza and the DG LDA, for survey of illegally constructed buildings. However, mafia involved in construction of high rising buildings is still at large challenging the writ of the government.
It may be recalled that on May 11, 2007, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court had halted the construction of all multi-storey buildings (more than three storeys) in Lahore while hearing a petition against the construction of Boulevard Heights on Main Boulevard, Gulberg. The court had constituted a commission, which conducted a survey of all high-rise buildings in Lahore. Under the survey, the CDGL, LDA and Board of Revenue also jointly planned to launch demolition plan to completely bulldoze around 169 commercial plazas and buildings constructed in sheer violation of the building by-laws in five towns.
The Commission inspected 170 out of 645 buildings during its survey and found 51 buildings constructed against the by-laws. It suggested to demolish 25 buildings completely while partially the rest of the others. The Commission inspected 74 constructions in Ravi Town and observed that 72 buildings had been built transgressing the rules and regulation. It inspected 78 buildings in Gulberg Town, found 46 buildings against the by-laws and recommended to demolish 10 buildings completely and partially demolish 36 buildings. The Commission inspected 3 buildings of Nishtar Town and found all of them constructed in line with the stipulated rules. It surveyed 168 buildings and recommended to demolish 33 completely and 3 buildings partially. During the inspection of 50 buildings in Aziz Bhatti Town, the Commission recommended to demolish 29 buildings completely and 8 buildings partially.
It may be recalled that the LDA had planned to pull down 45 high-rising buildings and partially demolish 150 others constructed against the building by-laws under the recommendations of commission in 2008. But the plan could not make any headway due to the judicial crisis that lingered on till March 2009.

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