Daily Times

The mushroom growth of buildings, apartments and projects and illegal settlement in progress in Zone-1 Islamabad sector H-17 on un-acquired land is violating Zoning Regulations 1992.

Documents available with this scribe highlighted that Zamar valley, Abdullah Garden, Ammar villas, Pearl orchard, Sherzaman Garden, Sarhad University, Beacon House, Talha Farms and Shifa International housing society are operating on un-acquired land of CDA violating the bylaws of both CDA and ICT but CDA is silent over the illegal land acquiring by the housing societies, farm houses and educational institutions of Islamabad.

Under Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Zoning Regulations 1992, the capital has been divided in 5 zones, and as per delineation of the zones, Zone-1 constitutes sectors- D-14, D-15, E-14, E-15, H-13, H-14, & H-15 & H-17. As per the zoning regulations, the development of land on un-acquired sectoral area shall be subjected to the following conditions:

Land shall be acquired under a phased program, and developed by the authority in accordance with the land use spelled out in Master Plan. No sale/purchase of land which entails change in land use shall be allowed. No construction of buildings, houses and private scheme should be allowed for any kind of constructions.

CDA negligent over blatant disregard of ICT laws and regulations by institutions and builders

Land acquiring by housing societies and land grabbing by influentials in the mentioned sector is in contravention of the provision of the CDA Ordinance 1960, ICT Zoning Regulations 1992 and CDA BY-Laws 2005 as well as the Master Plan of the Capital.

According to the details, the illegal buildings, apartments and other settlements are on many kilometers along with Islamabad toll plaza.

Regarding public awareness, the Capital body has spent millions on media advertisements and other mass campaigns wherein refraining illegal sponsors, sellers, builders, developers, advertisers, promoters, and estate agents, while also warning public against them. However, that did not deter the agents and companies.

A source in civic agency predicated that the said housing societies, education institutions and farm houses, through illegal constructions, are violating the Islamabad Preservation of Landscape Ordinance 1966 while CDA also not taking strict measures to counter illegal constructions.

“First, they establish buildings and illegal constructions on government land and later they pay money to the civic agency to regularize their illegalities because the civic agency didn’t take action in initial phases destroying the environment and beauty of Islamabad all owing to negligence of CDA,” the source added.

Published in Daily Times, January 31^st 2019.