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| December 15, 2006 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 23, 1427 |
CDGL fails to achieve targets
LAHORE, Dec 14: The city district authorities have failed to achieve various targets they set before launching different campaigns like removing illegal constructions, stopping unauthorised commercialisation or clearing the city of encroachments.
Following the collapse of an illegally built plaza in Shahalam Market in August, the CDGL authorities had promised to purge the city of illegal constructions. But, to the contrary, more illegal structures are surfacing. One of the glaring examples of this violation is a new multi-storey building being raised in Firdaus Market, Gulberg.
Similarly, no action has been taken in case of six Shahalam Market buildings declared dangerous by a special committee more than three months ago. The committee, formed to examine rundown buildings in the LDA controlled area, had recommended `swift action’ to avoid further loss of life and property.
The authorities had also decided to check the menace of illegal commercialisation in the city. An official survey subsequently identified 1,126 such cases along 32 major roads.
Action in the case was however deferred reportedly on the pressure of violators who are moneyed people and can go to any extent to save their illegal commercial structures. Postponing the action, the authorities said a third party would be assigned the task to confirm the list prepared by the CDGL officials. But the task was never assigned to any `third party’.
Some of the violators were rather facilitated through the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) which uprooted trees blocking the view of their illegal commercial structures in the name of clearing the city of eucalyptus. But only those trees were felled which were obstructing visibility of commercial plazas.
The authorities have also pledged to eradicate the dangerous business of refilling LPG cylinders from the city limits after a number of fatal accidents. But the authorities soon lifted the ban under pressure from traders’ organisations and rickshaw owners.
In view of the increasing level of air and noise pollution, it was decided to ban plying of two-stroke rickshaws on certain city roads. But the decision could be implemented only on The Mall.
The drive against substandard lubricants has also run out of steam.
According to the CDGL, over 60 per cent of the lubricants marketed in the city were substandard, with Badami Bagh center of the illegal business.
Even today, the sale of subtrandard lubricants continues in Badami Bagh area.
Another promise often made with the citizens is encroachment-free environment. A special squad had been set up for fulfilling this promise. But there is not a single road which could be presented as encroachment-free. Ironically, most of these encroachments have been raised either with the connivance of CDGL officials or ruling party’s leaders themselves are involved in the practice.
The district nazim had also banned the entry of uncovered trucks and trolleys carrying sand/soil into the city. The menace however still continues
A CDGL spokesman said that work on the third party survey of illegal commercialisation was going on. About other matters, he said the DCO and LDA authorities were in a better to comment on. The DCO was not available.
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