Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman has approved new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the smooth functioning of its subordinate wings and directorates. The said SOPs were proposed by the enforcement wing to avoid shift of responsibility by any section of the authority to another in future.

Earlier, it was reported that several departments of planning and environment wings of CDA were adopted a routine to only identify the violations of CDA bylaws rather taking practical steps on ground. The regional planning directorate, urban planning directorate, housing societies directorate, ‘Kachi Abadi’ cell and environment departments are used to only communicate the violations of CDA bylaws, layout plans, rapid increase of permanent structures in ‘Kachi Abadis’ and abuse of green areas to enforcement directorate for suitable actions whereas these departments have been failed to provide technical help to launch such operation on ground.

Due to aforementioned circumstances, the CDA Enforcement Directorate had proposed fresh SOPs to work efficiently in cooperation with other directorates of the CDA. The chairman after reviewing the draft has formally approved it and asked relevant departments to process these SOPs as earliest.

Under the new SOPs, the municipal administration (DMA) would be the sole custodian of Kiosk, timber depots and wood talls in the capital whereas the responsibility to watch and ward will also rest with DMA. It will be the responsibility of DMA to ensure that no illegal kiosk would be installed on CDA land. The enforcement wing will take action against any illegal kiosk only in case when DMA seek the help of enforcement directorate for ground operations.

After the implementation of new SOPs, all matters related to the building violations, non-confirming use would be curbed by the Building Control Directorate of CDA with the help of CDA Enforcement Directorate.

The protection, surveillance and check on encroachments in rural areas, green belts, buffer zones, hills, national parks, forests, mountains and villages will be the responsibility of environment wing and it will look after the matters related to these areas.

Most importantly, the new SOPs clearly proposed that the planning wing of the CDA would be the sole custodian of beautifications; housing schemes and violations of master plans and all operations to curb such irregularities would be launched under the leadership of planning wing only.

An insider told while talking to the Daily Times; “With the approval of new SOPs the functioning of several departments would be enhanced as now they will be the responsible of any violation in their respective domain”. He further said; “It is routine in CDA that every department shifted his responsibility on others’ shoulders and we are hopeful that such behaviour would be changed now”.

CDA Enforcement Directorate Deputy Director Amadud Din Muhammad while talking to the Daily Times confirmed that the CDA chairman has approved the new SOPs and said, “The approval of new SOPs would enhance the coordination and efficacy of work within the authority. Although, we have shortage of staff and resources but we can assist all the departments in ground operations by coordinating with police, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and by providing magisterial cover in case when the relevant department provide us practical support on ground in this regard”.