RAWALPINDI: The anti-encroachment drive launched by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) was on Wednesday postponed for a month as the civic body asked owners of all illegal structures to submit their building plans for approval or face action.

A senior official of the district administration told Dawn that one month was given to the owners of commercial plazas after a meeting between Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and the deputy commissioner.

“The traders were angry over the anti-encroachment operation and informed the administration about their reservations. Some politicians from the ruling party were also against the operation in main markets and bazaars.”

He said the amnesty scheme would enable the civic body to generate money by collecting fee for approving building plans and imposing fines on the violators of the by-laws.

“The owners of residential and commercial units will get benefit as they will be able to legalise their buildings,” he said.

The official said the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) would also announce a similar scheme soon.

“But the RMC will not approve plans of such commercial buildings whose owners have failed to leave parking space and take fire safety measures,” he said.

RDA Chairman Arif Abbasi said they gave a month’s time to owners of all unauthorised buildings - residential as well as commercial - and if they failed to regularise their structures the RDA would demolish them.

“We do not want to create problems for the citizens and shopkeepers by demolishing buildings and shops, and gave the owners time to legalise their illegal structures.”

He said most of the commercial building owners were reluctant to approach the RDA due to corruption in its wing concerned. “But we have decided to end corruption in the building department.”

He said the citizens can lodge complaints with his office if any official asked for bribe.

“I will take action within a day and punish the official if they are found guilty.”

But he made it clear that buildings constructed on encroached land would not be allowed. The department concerned of the RDA would inspect buildings using all the record available with it and the process would be completed within three to four days.

He said those who had encroached banks of nullahs and roads would not be tolerated. Compound fines would be imposed on those who violated the building by-laws.

Mr Abbasi said the objective was to facilitate the citizens and end corruption in the civic body. The RDA would take action against building inspectors if the monitoring team found any illegal building in their respective area.

“Teams have been formed which would monitor the work of the building department to ascertain if the citizens are being provided facilities,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2018