ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court has imposed a ban on all kinds of construction activity at the Margalla Hills.
Issuing a ruling on a petition filed against the construction of commercial buildings on hills, the court remarked that the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board and Capital Development Authority will be responsible for violation of the court orders.
Chief Justice Justice Athar Minallah questioned the authority of CDA to sign agreements with private companies to allocate government-owned land and allow them to pay rent to Farms Directorate.
The CDA lawyer told the court that the directorate did not just claim the land where hotels were constructed, but also 8,400 acres of the Margalla Hills.
The court has issued notices to the Farms Directorate and CDA. The hearing of the case was adjourned till November 9.
Last month, on the directions of the management of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Enforcement Department carried out anti-encroachments operation in the Chontra area of Islamabad to maintain the beauty and natural environment of Margalla Hills.
The operation was carried out by CDA with the help of Islamabad Police during which several illegal buildings, houses and illegal structures were demolished.
According to details, the Enforcement Department demolished 40 illegal rooms, 12 kitchens, 15 bathrooms, 24 walls, 10 doors, 12 DPCs and nine water tanks with the help of heavy machinery.
The Margalla Hills are a source of natural beauty in the Federal Capital, so in order to maintain the natural beauty of the Margalla Hills, the CDA is taking steps to improve the natural environment while also cracking down on illegal constructions and encroachments.
