May 21, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 18,1424

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ISLAMABAD, May 20: All encroachments made by diplomats, government departments and private institutions will be removed, said the chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA), Chaudhry Abdul Rauf, while speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday.

He said the Authority had kicked off a mass-scale anti-encroachment drive in the Capital under which encroachments in commercial and residential areas would be removed phase wise.

“First, we will remove movable and immovable encroachments from commercial centres and then these will be wiped out from main highways and other residential areas,” he said.

Some diplomats and government organizations had been occupying some roads and streets on the pretext of security purpose, he said, adding the foreign office and the authorities concerned would be consulted to chalk out a strategy to remove these encroachments.

To a question, he said, the CDA would not make any discrimination during the drive and the action would be taken across-the-board.

The CDA chairman said under a new policy adopted by the authority, the confiscated goods were not returned to the owners, however, these goods would be auctioned on monthly basis.

About the possibility of reoccupation of the state land after the operation, he said the CDA staff would remain in main commercial centres like Super Market, Jinnah Super, Blue Area and others.

The CDA chairman said the authority had removed 1,825 sign boards, 1,893 banners, 200 carts, 82 hawkers, 100 squatters, 120 illegal Chappar hotels and other goods from green belts of sectors I-8, I-9, G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, F-10, F-8, F-10, F-7, F-6, Aabpara market and I and T centre.

The CDA, he said, had challaned 148 traders for providing space to the vendors outside their shops on rental basis.

Talking about environment protection plan, he said some seven steel mills located in industrial area had been issued notices for polluting environment and the cases had been sent to Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pepa).

He said the a grand bus terminal was being established at I-11 sector, where all bus stands would be shifted.

The director-general (environment), Mazhar Hussain, said all bus stands located at I-J Principal road were illegal except Afridi Bus Stand. However, he was reluctant to reply a question about non-recovery of outstanding dues from the owner of Afridi Bus Stand.

About Modern Urban Shelter Project (MUSP) in Alipur Farash, he said four katchi abadis would be shifted to the MUSP and six others would be upgraded at their present locations.

He said Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) had demanded Rs125,000 for supplying power to each housing units to be established in Alipur Farash.