Pindi still not ready to listen to building bye-laws

Rawalpindi: Violation of building bye-laws are rampant in Rawalpindi city but the concerned authorities of the related departments despite being fully aware of this fact have adopted an indifferent and negligent attitude towards this issue.

The entire Rawalpindi falls under the parameters of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA). But none of the concerned officials of these departments since long have felt necessary to take action against those who violate building bye-laws and do illegal constructions both residential and commercial.

A survey made by this correspondent reveals that number of people have made and doing illegal constructions by violating the bye-laws of building plan. Though there are many instances to quote in this regard however, conversion of residential buildings into commercial area in between Liaquat Bagh Chowk to Committee Chowk opposite to Shah ki Talian graveyard by the owners is glaring example of the inefficiency of the concerned civic bodies under whom this vicinity falls to check this illegal practice.

According to the information gathered the entire area falls in the ambit of TMA as told by the officials of RDA high officials including director town planning, Jamshed Ahmed and Media Coordinator, Hafiz Irfan who said this illegal practice needs to be checked effectively by the concerned authorities.

According to details provided by residents and other people of the area but on anonymity conditions, the owners are running maintenance and workshops of motor cycles with residences on the upper portions.

However, over the years, some of the owners of these workshops have started converting residential building into commercial part and that too by getting NoC by the concerned civic body. He may be doing this in cahoot with the authorities of the related department the people alleged. Besides these, the owners have even started to apply for the bill boards to display on the tops of their commercial buildings. The people while voicing concern over the illegal move done by the owners have called upon the Punjab Chief Minister, Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, Commissioner Rawalpindi, DCO and Mayor of Rawalpindi for taking immediate notice of this burning issue with directions to the heads of the TMA, Rawal Town for launching operation against the owners who have and are violating the building bye-laws and making illegal constructions. The concerned officials of the related civic body also need to be probed that why they remain indifferent and unbothered on violation of building bye-laws in such a large number by people.

Though the concerned official, head of the Building Department in TMA, Rawal Town did not receive calls made repeatedly for getting his comments. Yet the Mayor Rawalpindi, Sardar Naseem while giving his views expressed annoyance over the failure of the concerned officials to check illegal practices like illegal constructions and violation of building bye laws by people . The Mayor however, assured that he would direct the director of building department in TMA to initiate work on assessment of violation of building bye laws through a complete survey. The concerned high officials would be directed to submit him a list of the violators of bye laws both residential and commercial on which basis a grand operation would be launched to take action against them. Even the staff of building department of TMA would be held responsible as to why them remained silent towards such illegal practice carried out by the people.