200 dilapidated buildings in Rawalpindi declared dangerous

Author: By Iqbal Malik

RAWALPINDI: As many as 200 buildings declared vulnerable and dangerous for people by the Town Municipal Administration (TMA) Rawal Town Rawalpindi two decades back are posing a serious life threat to the residents.

The TMA has served final notices to residents asking to vacate the buildings immediately ahead of the monsoon season, warning that the buildings may collapse in the face of heavy rains.

The residents have, however, ignored the notices and continued to reside in the rundown buildings, sources in the TMA told Daily Times.

According to the sources, the local administration had also sought police help to evacuate the dilapidated buildings, the police high-ups, however, refused to entertain their request, showing their inability to deal with such a huge number of cases.

They said the mostly the buildings are locked up or families are residing in them, therefore, it is difficult to take any action against them. 23 buildings in Shah Chan Charagh, 22 in Bohar Bazar, 12 in Nishtaar Abad, nine in Peshawary Galli, eight each in Mohalla Waris Khan and Landa Bazaar, seven in Chittian Hattian, three on College Road, two each in Talwaran Bazzar, Mochi Bazaar and Dakki Muhallah, one each in Raja Bazaar, Qallan Bazaar, Chachhi Muhallah, Iqbal Road Jamia Masjid area and Chun Bazaar are highly dangerous and can lead to cause mishap claiming countless human lives.

The TMA sources were of the view that the owners are reminded every year about the threat posed by dilapidated buildings but they continue to ignore the warning. The sources claimed that this time the TMA has decided to take legal action against the building owners and the residents to get these building vacated, they added.

A few days back, the TMA administration had written a letter to SP Rawal Town for registration of cases against the owners but the police officer refused verbally to oblige the request saying that maintaining and protecting record of such a large number of cases is next to impossible for them while a written reply from him is still awaited, the sources added.