ISLAMABAD: A committee constituted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to carry out scrutiny of housing societies and projects has completed a survey of two housing societies and detected a number of violations of the master plan.

The four-member committee was constituted on February 19 under Director Master Plan Zafar Iqbal. The committee would ensure that amongst other matters amenity plots are secured, graveyards and commercial areas are available and sewage treatment plants installed at the sites.Director Programming and Evaluation Rejesh Kumar, Deputy Director Master Plan Touqeer Nawaz and a representative form the Cooperatives Housing Department Islamabad are members of the committee.

Over the years, housing societies have converted parks, grounds and green areas into commercial and residential plots. A number of societies are even using land allocated for graveyards for commercial purposes.

The CDA has requested the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) not to give connections in almost 100 societies till they fulfil the requirements under the by-laws.

According to a statement, the committee is also inspecting the utilisation of amenity plots and other facilities which are mandatory as per the approved layout plan of societies.

Four-member committee formed by CDA is surveying housing projects to ensure amenity plots are used to facilitate residents

During the first three days of the survey, the committee reviewed CBR Housing Society and Aghosh-I Housing Society located in Zone V of Islamabad. The survey indicated that construction within these housing societies was not in accordance with the CDA’s approved layout plan.

The amenity plots allocated for public interest in both the housing societies did not meet the CDA’s planned criteria. They plots were to be reserved for graveyards, parks and playgrounds. Health facilities and sewage treatment plants were also not in accordance with the layout plan.

The survey showed that around 6,000 people were living in 800 residential units in CBR Housing Society while Aghosh-I has 300 units with 2,000 inhabitants.

CBR Housing Society has a private school and a 100-bed hospital and two small parks besides a government school while Aagosh-I lacks public utility facilities.

Both the housing societies have built partial commercial areas while graveyards and parks have been proposed by the societies in areas where the land is controversial.

According to the CDA by-laws, each society is to allocate two per cent of its area for the graveyard but CBR has a partial graveyard whereas Aghosh-I has no such facility. Both the housing societies have an underground network of electricity, gas, water and sewerage, said the statement.

The four-member committee is visiting various housing societies to observe the construction activities in accordance with their layout plans. The committee will submit its report after surveying all housing societies.

In addition, the committee will inspect projects being executed in housing societies to identify violations of the building by-laws.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2020