MCL identifies 181 illegal buildings

LAHORE : Around 181 illegal/unapproved buildings in the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL) were identified against whom action is yet to be taken.

Documents available with the scribe revealed that MCL Chief Officer (CO), wrote a letter (CO/MCL/2024/04) dated January 1, 2024 to the Metropolitan Officer (Planning) to take action against illegal/unapproved/unauthorised constructions across the City.

With the letter, the CO attached a list containing the addresses of 181 buildings. The letter stated that in the light of Rule 5(1) of the Punjab Local Government (Conduct of Business) Rules, 2017, it was the allocated business of Planning Officers to regulate and control erection and re-erection of buildings to enforce all municipal law, rules and bye-laws related to the allocated function. ‘In view of the above being head of the Planning Office, it is prime responsibility to adopt the measures against the illegal/un-authorised construction/buildings to control erection & re-erection as well as to enforce the municipal laws but it has been observed with great concern that no proper control is being adhered by the planning branch to control the construction. As a result, large numbers of buildings are either under-construction or un-authorisedly constructed,’ the letter stated.

Keeping in view the situation as well as complaints received from different corners, staff of regulation branch was deputed for field visit regarding illegal/un-authorised construction. The Regulation branch identified around 181 such buildings, the letter said.

These included 56 buildings/constructions in Wagah zone, 35 in Data Ganj Bakhsh zone, 35 in Samanabad, 22 in Nishtar, 10 in Ravi zone, 7 in Shalimar, 7 in Aziz Bhatti zone and four each in Allama Iqbal zone and Gulberg zone.

The Ravi zone included Misri Shah, Badami Bagh, Main GT Road Shahdara, Khokhar Road, Badami Bagh and Qila Lachman Singh; Samanabad zone included Farooqia Colony, Gulshan-e-Ravi, Tariq Colony, Umer Park, Muqadas Park, Main Nonarian Bazaar, Rasool Park and Ichhara; Shalimar zone included Shalimar Link Road and Baghbanpura; Allama Iqbal zone included Manga Raiwind Road and Sundar Raiwind Road; Nishtar zone included Hadyara drain, Galvera Road, Pandoke Road, Ahlo Road, State Life Housing Society and Gajjumatta; Wagah zone included Main Barki Road, Hadyara Road, Bedian Road, Darogawala, main Band Road, Shadipura and Main GT Road; Gulberg zone included opposite Haji Camp; Aziz Bhatti zone included Jorry Pull, Zarar Shaeed Road, Harbanspura and Data Town areas included Nawab Park, Kacha Sanda Road, Riwaz Garden, Kareem Park, Ameer Road, Mohni Road, Kasurpura, Lawrence Road, Brandreth Road, Ram Gali, Dil Muhammad Road, Railway Road, Mozang, Ferozepur Road, Zaildar Park and Anarkali. The CO, in his letter directed the MOP, MCL to examine/verify the status of the above-mentioned buildings and take necessary action against the illegal, un-authorised/un approved buildings as well as in case of violation of rules/by-laws. He directed the MOP, MCL to also ensure submission of the report and action taken as well as the recommendation against the responsible due to negligence of which these buildings were constructed and who failed to perform duties.

‘The report must be submitted within seven days, in case of failure the officials concerned will be held responsible for the same,’ the CO warned.