CDA loses Rs 1.4 million due to illegally built marriage halls

Author: By Farid Sabri

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has lost Rs1.4 million due to non-approval of building plan of seven marriage halls, which were constructed illegally in Sector E-11.

A source close to development told Daily Times that almost all the marquees and marriage halls, had been built on state land that was grabbed by their owners and no record of these illicit constructions was found in the Building Control Section (BCS).

The Authority is of the view that these marquees, and marriage halls had been built without prior approval from the competent authority. This state of affairs deprived Capital Development Authority (CDA) of handsome revenue on account of building scrutiny fee excludes the cost of precious land.

Well-placed sources inside the Directorate of Estate Management, who wished not to be named, said that the land in question was illegitimately occupied by some political influential persons due to which CDA had lost approximately Rs 420 million for the cost of the land.

It has been learnt by the latter that the Khiva Event Marriage Hall and the lawns located in between Margalla Road and Goldra Sharif, and the rest Aura Grande, The Millennium, the Weddings (02 Nos. Halls), Tha Paragon (02 Nos. Halls), Monal (02 Nos. Halls) and Dynasty Marriage Hall located in E-11 Service Road East, all these marriage halls occupied 20,000 square feet which accumulated a hefty loss to the civic body.

According to the documents, available with Daily Times revealed that according to the Para 66 (Chapter VIII Encroachment) of Municipal bylaws of the CDA provides that no person shall encroach on the land under the charge of the Authority or put up an immovable structure, hut, khokha or overhanging structure under any circumstances.

It is worth mentioning here that the free flow of pedestrian traffic in circulation verandahs of all the markets of Islamabad shall not be obstructed by stacking articles or in any other manner. Articles so stacked shall be liable to be removed and confiscated at the cost and risk of the defaulter.

It is pertinent to mention here that on one side the CDA officials seek a way to generate revenue but due to the lack of interest and in-competency the authority has utterly failed to recover its due revenue which portrays the sheer negligence of the authority.

Talking to Daily Times the Deputy Director Public Relations (PR), Malik Saleem said that the land occupied by the marquees in Sector E-11 was private-owned but the marquees which were enjoying the front area land linked to the main road fell in the jurisdiction of the civic authority.

The Civil Court had been issued a stay order in this regard so the civic authority wouldn’t take any action against them till the court cancels the stay.