ISLAMABAD, July 21: The Building Control Section (BCS) of the Capital Development Authority has failed to recover over Rs18 million from violators of CDA laws, a source in the authority said on Sunday.

Giving the break-up, the source said the BCS had failed to recover Rs6 million fine imposed on those using residential buildings for business purposes. He said similarly, it did not recover a fine of Rs6 million imposed on a hotel owner for illegally constructing a basement in it. In another case, the section failed to recover Rs6.175 million in fine from another hotel owner for additional construction. He said the CDA board had not given any approval for the revised construction plan of the hotel’s building.

A fine of Rs0.448 million was also not recovered from owners of different plots for starting construction on the land without getting the site plan approved, the source said.

Meanwhile, about 700 residential buildings are being used for commercial purposes in the capital, a survey conducted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) showed.

A senior CDA official told Dawn on Sunday that notices had been served on those involved in running educational institutions, beauty parlours, rest-houses, restaurants, showrooms, offices, shops and other businesses in residential buildings.

When contacted, a CDA official said a new section under a deputy director had been established to deal with the issue. He said out of the 700 cases of non-conforming use, 40 violations had been removed.

he said Under a new CDA strategy, a fine of Rs15,000 would be imposed on those using residential units for business purposes. They will also be given a deadline of 15 days to wrap up their businesses, failing which an additional fine of Rs1,000 per day will be levied on them. Even then if they fail to close down the businesses, the CDA will get these residential buildings vacated and cancel their allotments, he added.

He said those who wanted to open a business in the federal capital had to first get an NoC from the authority. Some of the violators have reportedly moved court and obtained stay orders.