August 27, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 2, 1427

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LAHORE, Aug 26: Ninety per cent of the commercial buildings in the Shahalam market are illegal, admits the City District Government Lahore which resolves to take a strict action against the owners and abetting government officials this time as the owner of the China Tower that collapsed on Thursday is still at large.

DCO Muhammad Ijaz told a press conference here on Saturday that the plazas in the busiest wholesale market of the province either had illegally-constructed basements or their altitude was over and above the permissible limits.

The permissible height for a one-kanal commercial building is 70 feet, 10-marla’s 60 feet and for five-marla structure 40 feet.

As a first step against these illegal buildings the CDGL had decided to get provision of utility services to them disconnected, said the DCO, adding a letter to the effect had been sent to Lesco, Sui Gas, Wasa and the PTCL authorities.

“Production of the approved map is also being made mandatory for the issue of utility connections for future constructions too.”

He said sealing or demolition of the edifices would be initiated after structural examination of the illegal structures.

“Any step taken in haste could be given the colour of victimisation by owners of illegal plazas.”

To check illegal alterations in buildings, he said, the revenue department had been directed not to accept registry of any shop unless an approved building plan was submitted along with the documents.

He said work on collection of data about illegal buildings had started three months ago and so far information about commercial structures had been compiled. Now a third party is evaluating the report while committees have been formed for structural examination of these plazas.

The DCO said the CDGL had no control over the building code as the subject was under the purview of towns. It could, however, give policy guidelines to town administrations.

Answering a question, he said a lack of will on the part of the administration had been one of the main obstacles in taking action against this unlawful activity but the current situation had alarmed the authorities as the chief minister had also shown concern over the city state of affairs.