ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders on Sunday urged the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to take stern action against people who constructed basements in their commercial buildings without official approval. The traders asked CDA to take prompt action to stop illegal digging and construction and take legal action against those who were playing with the life and property of masses for petty gains. “A majority of the buildings in Islamabad are constructed without basements to avoid additional costs. However, now owners have started digging basements,” said Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Patron Shahid Rasheed Butt. Talking to leaders of the business community, he said that illegal commercialisation had increased the trend of constructing illegal basements in commercial as well as residential localities which might prove catastrophic for nearby residents and buildings. “It is difficult to spot the construction activity, which usually takes place during night time. Such people believe no one can stop them,” he said. He demanded a full-fledged drive against violators and asked the CDA to constitute a special surveillance cell to identify illegal constructions, movement of construction material in night and digging of basements. “Illegal digging amounts to threatening not only the lives of the residents, but the safety of nearby buildings,” he said. The meeting was attended by former president Waqar Aslam Hamdi, Khurshid Ahmed, Jahangir Akhtar, Malik Nadeem, Tahir Yasin Satti, Syed Nauman Shah and others. The trade leaders praised the efforts of the Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz to streamline the affairs of commercial markets and offered unconditional support for the ongoing operation against encroachments.