ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday completed the demolition of the informal settlement in Sector I-11.

“All illegal structures have been razed and the CDA’s machinery is now levelling the area for development to start,” Ramzan Sajid, spokesperson for the CDA told Dawn.

He said the operation to remove informal settlements in various parts of the federal capital would continue. “The illegal slums in Sector H-9 are likely to be our next target,” he said.

The operation against the I-11 slum was carried out by the CDA-Enforcement Directorate over the course of four days. Help was sought for the work from the police, Rangers, Islamabad City Administration as well as other wings of the authority.

CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal said removing this large informal settlement would facilitate the CDA in taking action against other encroachments in the city and to expedite the development of residential sectors.

He said he has directed the Engineering Wing of the Authority to come up with a plan for the development of the area, whereas Planning and Estate Management has been directed to formulate a strategy for handing over of the plots to those who were originally allotted land.

The CDA chairman appreciated the role played by the ICT administration, police and other agencies for facilitating the operation and vowed to continue making progress in his drive against slums and encroachments in the capital.

He said that vigilant monitoring could ensure that the land could be protected from occupation and in the future, CDA land would be fenced.

Thousands of people were made homeless when the slum in Sector I-11 was razed over the last week. However, the CDA is yet to take any action against the traders in markets encroaching public land.

G-9 Markaz, Aabpara Market, Sector G-8 are among the markets, where encroachment is becoming increasingly common.

Additionally, a number of residents of other sectors in the capital have also encroached upon CDA land, developing lawns and even putting up fences. However, no action has been taken against such residents.

The CDA spokesperson said: “Action should be taken against all encroachers, whether traders, elite or slum dwellers.”

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2015

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