ISLAMABAD: The owners of major business centres and shopping malls in the heart of the capital city are openly violating the by-laws of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) which seems unable to take action against them.

After launching a limited operation against the illegal utilisation of public land by the management of Safa Gold Mall last month, the civic body is now considering granting them permission to use the land for non-commercial activities.

“We did launch the operation and disconnected electricity to the chiller plant and water supply to the fountains in front of the mall as both had been established on public land,” said Mohammad Iqbal, the CDA director operations.

The action was taken on February 18 but currently the connections have been restored. “We did what we could,” added Mr Iqbal.

The management of Safa Gold has covered the natural stream passing through the F-7 Markaz with concrete roof by erecting walls on both sides of the nullah. And the new found area is being used for parking by their clients.

“There have been numerous violations in the whole building process. Likewise, they have placed a chiller plant and generators on the reclaimed land over the stream,” said an official of the planning wing who did not want to be named.

Apart from obtaining a stay order from the local court against any action by the CDA, the management of Safa Gold Mall blames the civic agency for ignoring an agreement.

“The CDA had allowed us to cover the nullah and use the land for public parking,” claimed Mohammad Zubair, an official in the administration department of the Safa Gold Mall.

Over the issue of placing generators and the chiller plant on the covered natural stream, he said the CDA had been delaying the process to allow them to use the land.

“We have asked them (CDA) to lease the space to us and charge us for it,” Mr Zubair added. However, CDA spokesman Asim Khichi said action would be taken as soon as the stay was vacated.

Meanwhile, CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal has directed the building control section and the enforcement directorate to take strict action against all the violators of CDA building by-laws.

The directive has been given on the complaint lodged by the residents of sector F-6/2, Hill Road, against the ongoing construction work in their neighbourhood in violation of the building by-laws.

The CDA chairman also ordered departmental action against the assistant director and inspector of the area for ignoring the illegal construction.

Auction of plot challenged

In another development, the planning parameters for plot No 6 at F -10 Markaz were challenged in the Islamabad High Court.

However, the CDA assured the court that the aesthetic and planning parameters of the area would be preserved and the plot would be auctioned as a residential apartment plot.

The court was informed that the plot was being auctioned on April 2, 3 as a residential plot with the floor area ratio of 1:4.

The ground coverage will be 40 per cent with a maximum height of 120 feet.