Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) under its campaign launched to check and disconnect illegal water connections from its areas has disconnected more than 159 illegal water connections while six truckload goods of encroachers have also been confiscated.

According to RCB spokesman, the water connections have been disconnected in Naseerabad, Kamalabad, Gawalmandi, Allama Iqbal Colony, Tench Bhatta, Saddar and Westridge areas.

The residents have been warned that stern action would be taken with imposition of heavy fines against those who would be found guilty in any such practice in future.

Special teams have been formed to check illegal connections, the spokesman said, adding that RCB has also confiscated six truckload goods from different markets in its operation against encroachments in the city.

The operation on the instruction of Cantonment Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Saima Shah has been intensified and efforts are being made to make RCB areas encroachment free, he added.

The operation is being conducted on daily basis while permanent and temporary encroachments are being removed, he informed.

He said, encroachments were removed from Saddar, Bank Road, Kashmir Road, Masrial Road, Tench Bhatta, Chungi No. 22 and other areas.

The shopkeepers have been warned not to encroach space on roadside and keep their goods inside the shops otherwise strict action in accordance with the law would be taken.

Traders protest illegal construction of plaza: Traders of Farooqia Market in Sector F-6/1 have strongly protested against illegal construction of plaza in said market.

They claimed it is being constructed in violation of the Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s building bylaws and generators installation on right of way on footpath.

They said the design of the plaza could not be changed in any Class-III Shopping Centre. They said that the said plaza was being constructed by changing its design and giving it entry towards the main road allegedly in connivance with the CDA’s Building Control Section staff.They said the map of the plaza showed verandas, but actually the plaza was being constructed without any veranda. The building of the plaza was built eight feet above the ground, which was totally illegal.

Anjuman-e-Tajaran Pakistan President AjmalBaloch said that corruption within the CDA had badly affected the civic agency’s performance due to which many illegal constructions were cropping up in the federal capital.

He demanded Mayer & Chairman CDA Anser Aziz Shiekh to stop construction work & Mark enquiry through FIA.