Staff Reporter
Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA)’s operations against illegal housing schemes and unauthorized constructions are underway in full swing to control illegal development of housing projects.
The enforcement staff of Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Directorate RDA along with Land Use and Building Control (LU&BC) Wing of RDA, while conducting operation against illegal and unauthorized constructions.
The MP&TE Directorate’s staff with the assistance of police from the concerned police station has sealed site offices of three illegal housing schemes namely Wapda Town in Taxila Tehsil Rawalpindi and The Regent Farm Housing Scheme on Chakri road near Motorway Interchange and The Life Residencia on Fateh Jang road Rawalpindi.
The First Information Reports (FIRs) have been also lodged against two illegal housing schemes namely Mangolia Housing Scheme and New Rawal City.
The LU&BC Wing’s staff has sealed an under construction illegal plaza in Gulraiz Housing Scheme Rawalpindi.
RDA has also received fees/charges of Rs10.74 million from various illegal commercial buildings in lieu of commercialization fee.
The owners of the above mentioned properties have violated the Punjab Development of States Act 1976 and RDA Building and Zoning Regulations, 2020 and constructed illegal commercial buildings without approval and NOC.
Under the directives of Director General RDA, the Building Control Wing conducted a crackdown against illegal, unauthorized commercial and residential construction activities including plazas, shops, schools and other illegal lands in RDA controlled area in Rawalpindi.
The RDA spokesman said that the Director General RDA has directed the LU&BC Wing to take strict action against encroachments, illegal and unauthorized constructions and commercial activities without any fear and favour.
He said that the people should also show moral responsibility and remove all kinds of encroachments as much as possible.
He added that the owners of above mentioned properties initiated illegal development works without approval of layout plan from the authority in various areas.
The RDA in the better interest of the general public has advised not to invest in illegal and unauthorized real estate projects and high-rise buildings as the authority had not given any approval, he said, adding, “RDA recommends the citizens to consult the Authority before investing in such projects.”
