RAWALPINDI: For the first time in the history of the cantonment board, electronic and print media was not invited to a Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) meeting for ‘security reasons’.

RCB President and Station Commander Brig Zahid Ahmed Rana declared the session in camera (private) under section 42 of the Cantonment Act 1924.

RCB Cantonment Executive Officer Dr Samia Shah told Dawn that the station commander declared the session in camera for security reasons.

A senior RCB official told Dawn that the issue (the absence of media at the board meeting) was taken up at a meeting and that 12 elected members of the cantonment board remained silent and agreed to the move.

RCB vice president Raja Jehandad Khan told Dawn that the issue was brought up during the meeting, and that Rana mentioned threats due to the area’s sensitivity.

The board approved the reduction of water charges, but the move will only benefit owners of large houses, and small house owners will only see a reduction of Rs25 per month.

According to details, the board reduced water charges from Rs250 to Rs225 per month for one to five marla houses. Six to seven marla houses will pay Rs400 instead of Rs600, eight to 10 marla houses will pay Rs500 instead of Rs700, 11 to 14 marla houses will pay Rs650 instead of Rs850, 15 to 20 marla houses will be charged Rs800 instead of Rs1,000, 21 to 39 marla houses will pay Rs1,000 instead of Rs1,200, and houses measuring 40 marlas or more will pay Rs1,200 instead of Rs1,400.

During the board meeting, two committees were constituted for the procurement of land for a graveyard and a dumping ground, based on a proposal by the board vice president.

Arshad Qureshi, Malik Mansoor and Abdul Rasheed Khan were nominated to the graveyard committee, while Zafar Iqbal, Malik Munir and Mohammad Shafique were nominated to the dumping ground committee.

Vice president Khan told Dawn that the committees will be looking for suitable spaces within the limits of the cantonment area.

The meeting also decided to extend the services of 64 RCB employees at Pedestrian Street on Bank Road for 89 days. The RCB employed them to look after the affairs of Pedestrian Street, commonly known as Food Street.

Elected member Hafiz Hussain Ahmed told Dawn that the board approved over 300 building plans that had been pending for several months. He said that his proposal to establish five facilitation centres in 10 wards was also approved, and the centres will cater to resident complaints on water supply, street lights and sanitation.

Board members also approved the formation of a committee that will issue licences to residents looking to operate outlets, stalls and so on.

RCB president Rana has also called a meeting of the Chaklala Cantonment Board on Thursday, and has declared the session in camera.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2015

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