ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: The planned metropolitan corporation will take away the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) enforcement and implementation powers in many areas.
According to draft law of “functions of metropolitan corporation” available with Dawn, the metropolitan corporation would be headed by a mayor and deputy mayor.
An official who was part of the ongoing political discussions on condition of anonymity said a large number of functions would rest with the metropolitan corporation.
The official said that the CDA would perform the same functions currently being performed by the Lahore Development Authority.
“The CDA would continue with its planning and engineering operations but the enforcement powers like implementation of building by-laws, non-conforming use of residential areas for offices purpose will be performed by the metropolitan corporation,” maintained the official.
The official quoted a clause from the draft law relating to legal powers which would be enjoyed by the metropolitan corporation, saying: “(Metropolitan corporation) can authorise officer(s) to issue notice to a person committing any municipal offence and initiate legal proceedings for continuance of commission of such offence or for failure to comply with the directions contained such notice.”
The corporation was also mandated to prosecute, sue and follow up criminal, civil and recovery proceedings against the violators of municipal laws in the courts competent jurisdiction with the ICT administration as well as district and sessions courts of Islamabad.
The official remarked that currently the implementation and enforcement related powers are with the deputy commissioner of the CDA. And the draft document said: “The metropolitan corporation shall maintain integrated system as may be specified by the government and not in conflict with the CDA Ordinance; like water distribution, treatment plants, drainage, liquid and solid waste disposal, sanitation and other municipal services.”
The metropolitan corporation, the official said, was also empowered to prevent and remove encroachments within areas specified by the government.
He said that regulation and revenue of advertisement and signboards in rural areas would be managed by the metropolitan corporation and in the areas where CDA had no jurisdiction.
Another official of the Ministry of Interior maintained that metropolitan corporation would regulate the water distribution, and provision of civic amenities including development of road network establishment of parks in rural parts of the city.
The official said that ICT would give up few of its services like registration of marriages, and divorces.
A clause of the draft law said: “(Metropolitan Corporation) arrange for registration of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.”
Meanwhile, when approached an official in the federal government said: “The draft law is still under discussion and nothing is final as yet.”
“Legislation is needed to introduce metropolitan corporation in Islamabad besides making amendment in the CDA Ordinance to ensure smooth implementation of government’s plan in the city,” said the official.
He maintained that main objective of metropolitan corporation “is to bring rural and urban areas on par with each other to bridge the gap between the two.”
Despite multiple attempts the spokesmen for the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Ministry of Interior were not available to comment on the daft law of metropolitan corporation.
