Construction mafia overpowers writ of MCL

LAHORE : The construction mafia has overpowered the writ of Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL), which has failed in controlling the illegal constructions across the provincial metropolis as well as taking action ‘inside facilitation’.

In a recent case, different social media platforms were buzzed with pictures and videos of an illegal digging of a huge basement on the main GT Road near last Mint Stop in Wagah Zone due to which an adjacent building was also caved in. However, luckily at the time of collapse of the building there was no one in the building so no casualty took place at site.

After the case was highlighted, an initial inquiry was conducted on the orders of Deputy Commissioner Lahore who is also the Administrator of MCL. Documents available with The News revealed that the then Metropolitan Officer Planning (MOP) Mustafa Moazzam held the initial inquiry. In his report, he said he visited the site located at GT Road near Last Mint Stop on Dec 2, 2023 and found that the media clip was correct to the extent that a building was collapsed due to the illegal digging of a basement. In his report, the MOP said according to the information collected from site, it was reported that owner of the plot dug out the basement overnight and without obtaining any approval from Wagah Zone, MCL.

The Zonal Officer (Planning), Wagah Zone, MCL visited the site on 02.12.23 along with the inquiry officer and when she was inquired whether she knew about the digging of basement, the concerned Zonal Officer (Planning) Wagah Zone showed her ignorance. The inquiry officer, in his report said the concerned Building Inspector submitted a request for lodging of FIR against the owner on 30.11.2023 in the concerned Police Station upon which the FIR was registered against the owner in the concerned P.S on 02.12.2023. The initial inquiry report further said that record of Planning Wing Wagah Zone has also been examined and it was found that a building plan for the approval of an apartment building was submitted vide E Khidmat Number FCLH1-RBG-231023001085 dated 25.10.2023 on the instant site. The Building Plan application was processed and the Building Surveyor, after reporting with respect to the zone of Master Plan, deliberately kept it pending by raising a vague objection that the owner should submit an affidavit that he would not change the use of his building from residential to commercial. It was pertinent to mention here that Building surveyor generated his report on 17.11.2023 after the lapse of 17 days and Zonal Officer (Planning) issued objection letter accordingly. According to the SOP’s issued by the MO (P) office, the duty of the surveyor was to report with respect to the zone of Master Plan and with respect to the Town Planning Scheme.

The surveyor reported against the SOP and from this it was evident that he deliberately delayed the approval process and he was fully aware of the activity being carried out at site. “In fact, the delay in approval of Building Plan application prompted the owner to dig out the basement illegally. The Zonal Officer (Planning) also failed to process the building plan application in due course of time,” the report added.

The Zonal Officer (Planning), Building Surveyor and Building Inspector, Wagah Zone Metropolitan Corporation Lahore were given an opportunity to submit their written statements with respect to the digging of an illegal basement. \Zonal Officer (Planning), Wagah Zone did not submit her stance on the subject matter while Building Inspector and Building Surveyor submitted their written statements by appearing before the MOP, MCL. \The inquiry officer recommended that from the perusal of available record, site visit and statements of the officials, it was crystal clear that there was an act of negligence and inefficiency on part of Zonal Officer (Planning) and Building Inspector Wagah Zone who failed to perform their duties in accordance with their job description as envisaged under law. The building surveyor deliberately delayed the approval of building plan application by raising a vague objection and kept it pending with himself. It was pertinent to mention here that the file was never received to the Building Inspector for further processing. “It is recommended that a request for surrendering the services of Ms Iram Altaf, Zonal Officer (Planning) Wagah Zone and Sanabal Salah-ud-Din Building Inspector Wagah Zone, MCL may be forwarded to Secretary Local Government and Community Development Department and Secretary, Punjab Local Government Board being Competent Authority. It is further recommended that the Hafiz Aqib, Building Surveyor Wagah Zone may immediately be placed under suspension on account of misconduct and inefficiency,” the inquiry officer recommended. Following the initial inquiry, the Administrator MCL wrote a letter to the Secretary Local Government department on December 08, 2023. In her letter, the DC Lahore maintained that the MOP reported that negligence was observed in case of illegal digging of basement due to which adjacent building was collapsed. “Ms. Iram Altaf, Zonal Officer (Planning) (BS-17) & Sanabal Salah-ud-Din, Building Inspector (BS-14) Wahga Zone, MC, Lahore were failed for timely action against illegal digging,” the letter said and requested that in view of above, the services of Ms. Iram Altaf, Zonal Officer (Planning) (BS-17) & Sanabal Salah-ud-Din Building Inspector (BS-14) Wagah Zone were no more required in MCL and they may be surrendered from MCL. However, till now both the officers Ms. Iram Altaf, Zonal Officer (Planning) (BS-17) & Sanabal Salah-ud-Din, Building Inspector (BS-14) Wagah Zone were working on their respective seats while Hafiz Aqib was surrendered instead of being suspended.

M Saleem, MOP, MCL while talking with the scribe said an inquiry has already been initiated at the Local Government department. Over a question, he said the powers to transfer Zonal Officers and Building Inspectors lied with the Local Government department so MCL can’t remove the present Zonal Officer Wagah Town and Building Inspector.

Replying to a question about construction of ongoing illegal buildings in Wagah Town, he expressed his helplessness and said the MCL was already short of staff and till the Local Government department transfers the present ZOP Wagah Town, he can’t take any action.

The scribe repeatedly tried to contact CO MCL Iqbal Farid to get his official version over this issue but he neither received calls nor replied to the text message.